Two Years Later: Reflections on My Return to Amazon

It’s been two years since I wrote about my return to Amazon. A lot has happened, both in the world and in my career. Time for an update.

Leadership Principles: Still the Backbone

The Leadership Principles (LPs) continue to be the backbone of how we operate at Amazon. My experience with them hasn’t changed much - they’re still guiding our decisions and actions daily. I won’t bore you with a list of all the LPs, but they remain as relevant as ever.

Deep Dive into Operations and Robotics

My time in Operations and Robotics was incredibly enlightening. I got to dive deep into large-scale federated simulation, which is a personal passion of mine. The technology enabling our logistics network is mind-blowing - I saw and learned about innovations that are truly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Stability in Turbulent Times

Personally, I’ve experienced good stability at Amazon. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that this isn’t universal. The tech industry as a whole has faced turbulence in recent years, and Amazon hasn’t been immune.

I’m thankful for my job and the autonomy I have within it. But I also recognize this as a privilege - one that I’ve earned through decades of hard work, but a privilege nonetheless. It’s a bittersweet realization, knowing that not everyone has been as fortunate.

New Opportunities and Lateral Mobility

One of the things I love most about Amazon is the opportunity for lateral mobility. Recently, I made a significant move from Operations and Robotics to the US Prime and Marketing Tech team. It wasn’t an easy decision - some of the leaders who initially attracted me to Operations and Robotics had moved on, and while there were still phenomenal leaders in that space, an incredible opportunity arose that I couldn’t pass up.

Now, I’m reporting to a VP with an SVP as my skip-level manager. In terms of scope and responsibility, it’s the biggest challenge I’ve taken on in my career. It’s a bit scary, but incredibly invigorating.

This kind of mobility is a powerful tool at Amazon. It keeps managers accountable - you need to work hard to keep your employees challenged, happy, and fulfilled. If you don’t, they’ll find a manager who does.

Work-Life Balance and Autonomy

My work-life balance has remained steady throughout these two years. The return-to-office mandates haven’t affected me, which I recognize is another aspect of the high demand for Principal Engineers.

As for autonomy, it’s been consistently high throughout my time here. If anything, in my new role, it’s as high as it’s ever been.

Closing Thoughts

Two years after my return, I can say that coming back to Amazon was the right choice for me. The opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology, the ability to move between teams, and the consistent autonomy in my work have all been incredibly rewarding.

At the same time, I’m acutely aware of the challenges and changes in the broader tech industry. It’s a complex landscape, and while my personal experience has been positive, I know that’s not universal.

As I look ahead to the next chapter in my career at Amazon, I’m excited about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The scope of my new role is daunting, but it’s exactly the kind of challenge I thrive on.

Here’s to continuous learning, growth, and making an impact - wherever your career takes you.