23-Year-Old Tech Prodigy Quits Amazon for ₹3.52 Crore AI Role at Meta

In today’s competitive tech industry, stories of young talent making bold career moves are rare, but one 23-year-old has managed to capture attention worldwide. Manoj Tumu, a machine learning engineer, has taken a giant leap from Amazon to Meta, landing a jaw-dropping compensation package worth ₹3.52 crore per year.

This isn’t just a story about money—it’s about vision, preparation, and a deep passion for artificial intelligence.

A Journey Fueled by Ambition

At just 23, Manoj had already built an impressive foundation at Amazon, working as a software development engineer. While the job was prestigious, his passion for artificial intelligence and machine learning pushed him to look for bigger challenges.

Meta’s increasing focus on AI research proved to be the perfect opportunity. When he received the offer to join their advertising research team, he made the bold decision to leave Amazon behind and embrace a future at the forefront of AI innovation.

How Manoj Prepared for Success

Many young professionals dream of joining top global tech firms, but very few succeed without insider connections or referrals. Manoj, however, charted his own path:

• Building Early Experience: During college, he grabbed every internship opportunity he could. These early experiences gave him credibility, even more than personal side projects.
• Highlighting Work, Not Just Projects: By the time he applied to top firms, Manoj prioritized his real-world engineering achievements on his résumé. He even removed personal projects to ensure recruiters focused on his professional work.
• Applying Cold, but Smart: Without referrals, he applied directly through company portals and LinkedIn, relying on his strong résumé to stand out.

His journey shows that with preparation and a strong professional profile, it’s possible to land dream jobs—even without the “right connections.”

Inside the Meta Interview Process

Landing a role at a company like Meta is no easy feat. Manoj’s interview journey was structured, intense, and stretched over six weeks.

• Screening Call: The process began with an initial recruiter call to understand his background.
• Technical Rounds: He then faced multiple coding and machine learning interviews, testing both theory and applied skills.
• Behavioral Interviews: Perhaps the most underestimated phase, these rounds assessed his ability to handle challenges, communicate effectively, and align with company culture.

Manoj’s key strategy was preparation. Instead of giving generic answers, he crafted stories from his past experiences that demonstrated problem-solving, resilience, and adaptability. This gave him a significant edge.

Understanding the AI Role

At Meta, Manoj joined as a Machine Learning Software Engineer within the advertising research team. Unlike purely academic research roles, his position blends applied engineering with innovative AI problem-solving.

This kind of role demands not only coding and algorithm expertise but also the ability to scale solutions that impact billions of users. For a 23-year-old, stepping into such responsibility is both challenging and inspiring.

Lessons for Young Professionals

Manoj’s story holds powerful lessons for students, job seekers, and early-career engineers:

1. Start Early with Internships – Even modest roles add credibility and build practical skills.
2. Showcase Experience Over Projects – As careers progress, professional work speaks louder than student projects.
3. Don’t Fear Cold Applications – A strong résumé can open doors without insider help.
4. Prepare Thoroughly for Behavioral Interviews – Technical skills matter, but so does personality and cultural fit.
5. Follow Passion, Not Just Paychecks – Manoj’s decision wasn’t just about money—it was about aligning with his passion for AI.

Why This Story Matters

In an era where young professionals often chase the highest salary, Manoj’s decision shows the importance of purpose-driven career moves. Yes, the ₹3.52 crore package is remarkable, but what makes his journey inspiring is the courage to choose passion and growth over comfort.

At only 23, he’s already redefining what’s possible for young engineers. His story is a reminder that with ambition, preparation, and resilience, age is no barrier to achieving extraordinary success in the world’s most competitive industries.