#j&j robotics vs amazon leo

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

normal island
#

This is likely my last summer internship before graduation. (I may do a masters) Goal is to break into autonomy / perception / robotics middleware / C++-heavy non-quant roles. My resume is mostly startups + research, so this internship would be the anchor brand.

What I care about (in order):
resume value > learning > RO rate / NG pay > intern pay

I currently have the unicorn offer and would need to renege for either of the other two.

J&J (Santa Clara)

$38/hr + $14k sign-on
Team: Robotics SWE on MONARCH (robotic endoscopy)

Pros:

  • modern C++ (multithreading, concurrency)
  • strong robotics middleware focus
  • team seems hella cracked
  • good RO rate; most of the team has been working since post-grad (7-8+ yrs)
    Cons:
  • not really autonomy-focused (medical robotics)
  • NG pay a bit low (~$120k), although if i could transfer to OTTAVA its closer to 200k

GM (Sunnyvale)

~$50/hr + ? sign-on
Team: Autonomous driving simulation

Pros:

  • closest to AV / autonomy space
  • python + C++ heavy
    Cons:
  • GM brand in AV kinda meh post-Cruise
  • unknown RO rate, unknown NG comp

Unicorn (socal, energy)

$37/hr + $5k sign-on
Team: SWE (embedded + sim)

Pros:

  • more ownership
  • some C++ (state machines, etc.)
  • domain seems cool + well-funded company
    Cons:
  • unstructured
  • lots of C# (don’t really want that)
  • team doesn’t seem that cracked 😭
  • don’t really want to do another startup

Leaning J&J > GM > Unicorn, but curious on:

  • brand signal of j&j vs gm
  • could i transition from med robotics to other autonomy companies later on
desert swallow
#

GM is prob more transferable

#

J&J seems fye but sounds kinda niche

normal island
normal island
#

was hoping that since the work is mainly latency and modern c++ focused it would transfer a bit

normal island
#

Bumping cuz it’s a tie rn 😭✌️

desert swallow
#

Idk if it’s the move to optimize for raw coding ability with the way ai is heading

#

Perception is a pretty hard problem and transferable to different domains

summer steppe
slate cove
#

You might get pigeonholed out of autonomy but def not from robotics from j&j

slate cove
#

I think auton driving is cool asf and I would take cruise over j&j just bc there's a lotta depth there

normal island
normal island
normal island
#

ill see how it goes its hypo anyways

slate cove
#

My alternative is swe so I would take gm

#

Plus it looks like potentially ex cruise people

whole harness
#

GM here

#

Based on your prios

#

This is a easy choice LMFAO

mossy patio
#

GM despite "autnomous", this role is likely be more about simulation/test. (not suggesting you should take JJ)

#

at least it will give you a foot in the autonomous field

#

JJ is just robotics no autonomy. So if you want autonomy, GM. If robotics, JJ.

dusky bramble
#

I would just larp as cruise

#

Cuz it is just cruise

mossy patio
dusky bramble
#

Kinda

#

It was absorbed into Gm

#

People definitely still work at cruise

normal island
#

It’s a subsidiary of gm now but it’s not called cruise idt there’s a possible way I could larp as cruise

mossy patio
#

don't call it cruise

#

only found 1 person in linkedin who is still @ cruise (looks like a dead account now)

#

seems everyone changed to GM

normal island
#

Yea

#

Gm auton driving

#

Super cruise or something lmao

violet arch
#

I would personally elect J&J bc I feel like working in a medical company more enriching

normal island
#

I think j&j would probably make me a better engineer overall, and since I’m probably getting a masters this won’t have to be my final internship anyways

#

I’ve gotten perception ints w my current resume so I’d assume I’d still be competitive if nothing major changes

violet arch
#

And most importantly, you would be saving lives!

rose cliff
#

What are your prevs

normal island
#

Startups

#

1 stealth and 1 decent yc

#

But all robotics/autonomy domain

rose cliff
#

Can i dm?

normal island
#

Ye

normal island
# normal island
poll_question_text

whichr

victor_answer_votes

17

total_votes

25

victor_answer_id

2

victor_answer_text

gm

normal island
#

Update: my GM verbal offer didn’t convert to a final offer. But I’m currently evaluating between my existing J&J role and a new offer I got from Amazon Leo on the Embedded Systems team.

J&J (Santa Clara)

  • $38/hr + $14k sign-on

Role + Team: Robotics SWE on MONARCH (robotic endoscopy)

Pros:

  • modern C++ (multithreading, concurrency), strong robotics middleware focus
  • team seems hella cracked, all are from Auris health (the startup J&J accquired)
  • good RO rate; most of the team has been working since post-grad (7-8+ yrs)

Cons:

  • not really autonomy-focused (medical robotics), worried that this may pigeonhole me into surgical robotics industry (I already have a project on my resume in this niche)
  • NG pay is low, but this is not my final internship
  • worse brand name than Amazon

Amazon Leo (Redmond, WA)

  • 53/hr + $8k relocation

Role + Team: Embedded Systems SDE

Pros:

  • definitely better brand name than J&J
  • huge low-level + systems level work, leo is the largest system I will have ever worked on

Cons:

  • Definitely nowhere near autonomy focus, way too level. Again, kind of worried this will pigeonhole me towards lower-level roles.

My primary concern is that I’ve already been able to get interviews at most of the top autonomy places with my current resume (which is a lot of the same type of work as J&J), so I don’t think the benefit of adding Amazon’s brand to my resume outweighs the risk of being less robotics/middleware focused.

I’m leaning towards J&J, but would love to get other thoughts.

I am also making my way through a process at Nuro for the Pose Team, so if I get that I’m defo picking it over everything.

#

j&j robotics vs amazon leo

normal island
weak fjord
violet arch
#

I think you should take Johnson and Johnson, personally. The median household in the U.S. makes around 83k. If people making that much money can raise a family and live a more comfortable life than kings 40 years ago and people in third world countries, that should be more than enough for you. Also at Johnson and Johnson, you will have the opportunity to change lives and save lives whereas, at Amazon you will most likely just be pushing a mouse around behind a screen. Also it seems like J&J is more aligned with your career interests, and as a wise prophet once said, “if you do what you love the money and joy will follow”. Thus, in my extremely humble and virtuous opinion, Johnson and Johnson would be the better option.

normal island
gilded needle
#

def Amazon