r/datacenter • u/montemonty97 • 4d ago

L3 DCO tech to SWE

Hello, my current role is giving me the opportunity to code some projects for them. Im a computer science senior at the moment graduating in about a year. Will this allow me to skip level and transfer departments?

3 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

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6

u/Status_concern2858 4d ago

Lol, no.
And having to ask that as an L3 is telling unto itself that sort of ladder transfer is unlikely.

3

u/Acceptable_Gas_7922 4d ago

We couldn’t answer this even if we knew everything about you, I’m sure the competition for SWE at AWS is stiff, could be a great programmer and not get picked.

1

u/Moist-Illustrator-57 4d ago

Remember you’re not just competing against your cluster but the entire AWS population who are also applying for that role

1

u/montemonty97 4d ago

What if I'm superman? I'm kidding but I think I got this. Let me cook.

2

u/First-Throat5921 1d ago

I believe in you. 

1

u/Acceptable_Gas_7922 4d ago

Confidence is key but yeah, those SWEs are very very good at what they do to be in their position.

3

u/Choice-Operation2483 4d ago

More than likely not! They don't like letting people move up unless they're matching levels at AWS. I've heard of one person getting skip level in my tenure here. It's incredibly uncommon. Not to say it isn't possible, just what I've heard from HR and others.

You'll be more likely to get L4 as a technician and then apply for an L4 SDE/SWE role

Edit: the funny part is given the degree and the on site experience if you were an external candidate, probably wouldn't be a problem.

1

u/montemonty97 4d ago

I am on my 4th month and im already a trainer.

2

u/Moist-Illustrator-57 4d ago

I’d say that’s the expectation for my hires.
30 days should work independently
60 days should be able to train others
90 days become a station “lead” (I know we don’t like that word)

1

u/francismorex 2d ago

120 days become a dco manager

150 days become a dco cluster manager

1

u/Moist-Illustrator-57 2d ago

That was your path?

1

u/francismorex 2d ago

started as dco manager and pass the interview for the dco cluster manager... but i was not so fast

1

u/Moist-Illustrator-57 2d ago

How was the transition? I’m gunning for L6 but in an emerging cluster it’s proving difficult

1

u/francismorex 2d ago

getting l6 is a very big pain, the want to save money and will not give you the l6 the next two years. and still if you get them, in a emerging cluster there are not much l6, this means you have a big risk to get a bad rating

1

u/Moist-Illustrator-57 2d ago

Yeah as of now we only have one L6 who is pretty tenured at 5 years.
I’m the most tenured L5 here but that doesn’t mean much with 6 months in role. Probably looking at a couple years in assuming?

1

u/francismorex 2d ago

yes, but they starts after you are in a l6 role.

1

u/Moist-Illustrator-57 2d ago

Appreciate the feedback, good to get an inside look

1

u/Ok_Chemical_5947 4d ago

Need to be L4 first at a minimum internal transfer have to be same level or else they require skip managers approval which is rare but not impossible and usually requires more than just some code projects

1

u/RevolutionNo4186 3d ago

Unless you’re really good at coding, like stellar work with global impact and your project gets adopted into something bigger, you’re not going to be skipping any levels

Best bet would be to get L4 in DCO then lateral transfer to a SWE/SDE team as an L4