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I work at an AWS consulting firm and have worked with several employees in the AWS product and professional services team. Overall the general culture I've seen is for employees to get ahead by throwing others under the bus. I know I'm generalizing to all of AWS, but the work culture isn't the best in my opinion to be absorbed in.
I’d go with Cambridge for the experience alone. Letting this AI stuff shake out some more is also a bonus. Amazon could leave you laid off in 6 months. Once you get the masters, you have that for life, and a lot more options. There will be corporations waiting to employ people the rest of your life. Going back to school later if you change your mind is a lot harder once you’ve started to build a life. Solidify that f…
He didn't ask which experience is better. He said his goal is flexibility and money in the long term.
> Letting this AI stuff shake out some more is also a bonus... There will be corporations waiting to employ people the rest of your life
These two are contradictory. No one knows how this AI stuff will play out. Putting things on hold for 2-3 years right now is incredibly risky. It's one thing if you get a few years experience and then have to pivot to whatever programming has become, but coming in to the industry as a new grade 2-3 years from now is very uncertain.
Going back to school is a lot "harder" later in life because it's a bad deal, you have too much to walk away from. What school has to offer is much less than just staying in place. So I don't think you're making the point you think you are.
School is fun, but apart from a few career paths, graduate school is unnecessary, not to mention a huge money sink. Computer science isn't one of them. I've hired programmers before and never was anyone impressed or even asked about a graduate degree. It's actually often a negative signal (at least at the places I worked) because if someone is too academic they'll have trouble fitting into the corporate culture.
You gave too little information for us to recommend effectively.
As everyone has already said, Amazon is fickle, and if you do work there, live on ramen and save up as much cash as you possibly can until that point. This AI hyperscale buildout bubble is about to pop, having a relatively stable University around you while that happens might be a very good thing.
AI itself, will remain useful, it just won't be distorting the entire stock market after the pop.
Can you defer enrollment in your masters program? Then you can go to Amazon, and the program is waiting for you if you don’t like it or get laid off.
Meet as many people as you can, go to social events, these connections could help you for the rest of your life.
If you want money, status symbols and no life = Amazon. Oh, you might gain some experience that is near useless in a non-FAANG org.
If you value life, freedom, keeping your mind active, living up to your full potential then Cambridge.
In my experience, the hedonic treadmill is the biggest trap. But I only arrived at that conclusion after running furiously for decades and having little to show for it, well except for a burnt out husk.
Reddit is full of desperate crabs pulling you down into the bucket. Go to Cambridge, that's literally a once in a lifetime opportunity.