AWSBecause cloud computing is hot, because Seattle is home to some of the most advanced cloud-computing services, and because companies nationwide desperately need cloud-computing expertise, the region has become a boomtown for engineers, says The New York Times.

According to a Times piece published Sunday, startups and more established tech companies are in need of skilled engineers and mathematicians to help create complex cloud systems. This has led to a spike in wages as recruiters attempt to lure away talent from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft’s Azure, and the Seattle-based cloud-computing offices of Facebook and Google, the Times said.

“Someone working deep inside Amazon is getting five to 20 recruiting offers a day,” Shannon Anderson, a veteran Seattle and San Francisco recruiter, told the Times. “Compensation has doubled in five years.”

The Times outlined how this is a golden era for Seattle engineers, who can make from $300,000 to $1 million depending on their experience.

But if AWS managers are flattered that other companies covet their talent, they certainly aren’t overjoyed to see former employees move to a competitor. Like most tech companies, Amazon goes to great lengths to protect trade secrets.

In 2014, Amazon sued Zoltan Szabadi, a former Amazon Web Services strategic partnerships manager, after he moved to the Google Cloud Platform. Amazon claimed Szabadi violated the non-compete terms of his Amazon employment contract.

Cloud computing isn’t the only unit where Amazon has to bar the doors. GeekWire last week noted that retailing rivals are seeking to hire away Amazon employees who have experience in supply and delivery. It only makes sense. Amazon is a frontrunner and competitors want to know how it’s done.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.