Leeds man shares career journey on Armed Forces Day

Chris Simons is a Senior Regional RME Manager (Reliability, Maintenance and Engineering) at Amazon in Leeds and is sharing how his personal journey brought him from the services community into a new life at Amazon. 

At Amazon, Chris oversees engineering operations across the UK transportation network. 

A former Royal Navy Marine Engineer, Chris served for seven years before joining Amazon in 2020. Originally from Workington in Cumbria, he decided at a young age that he wanted to travel and take on a new challenge. 

“I’ve always wanted to see more of the world. Although I love where I’m from in Cumbria, small-town life wasn’t really for me, and I felt I needed a new challenge.” 

At the age of 20, Chris joined the Royal Navy as a Marine Engineer. During his service, he completed multiple Gulf deployments and supported operations alongside the US Carrier Strike Group across the Middle East and Indo-Pacific region in 2014 and 2015.

He was later promoted to Leading Marine Engineer and served on HMS Queen Elizabeth, including the carrier’s deployment to the United States in 2019, before leaving the Armed Forces in July 2020. 

Reflecting on the transition into civilian life, Chris says joining Amazon felt like a natural next step. 

“They really valued my military experience. There are a lot of similarities in the culture – the standards, ownership, teamwork and focus on delivering results. It made the transition much easier than I expected.” 

Since joining Amazon, Chris has progressed from Senior RME Technician to RME Area Manager, then Site RME Manager at the Leeds Sort Centre, before moving into his current regional leadership role. 

“It’s been a great journey. I’ve had opportunities to develop, take on new challenges and continue progressing my career.” 

Chris first heard about Amazon through other veterans who had already made the move from military to civilian careers. 

“I knew a few people who had joined Amazon after leaving the Armed Forces, and they spoke very positively about their experiences. The role really appealed to me and seemed like a good fit for my background.” 

What Chris enjoys most about Amazon is the variety of the role and the people he works with. 

“No two days are the same. There are always new challenges, new opportunities and new people to learn from. It’s a fast-paced environment and that’s something I’ve always enjoyed.” 

Chris is also a strong advocate for the development opportunities available at Amazon. Recently, he completed a master’s degree in Senior Leadership through Amazon’s Apprenticeship Programme and became a Chartered Manager. 

“Amazon has invested heavily in my development. Completing my master’s degree and becoming a Chartered Manager are achievements I’m really proud of, and I’m grateful for the support I’ve received along the way.” 

 For anyone currently serving and considering life after the Armed Forces, Chris has a simple message: 

“Have confidence in yourself and invest in yourself. The skills you develop in the military are incredibly valuable and highly transferable. The Armed Forces teach you discipline, leadership, teamwork and accountability. Back yourself, continue learning and be open to new opportunities.” 

As Armed Forces Day approaches, Chris reflects on what the day means to him. 

“For me, it’s about recognising the commitment and sacrifices our servicemen and women make. It’s about acknowledging the time spent away from families, the long hours and the dedication required to serve. Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to recognise and thank those who continue to do an incredible job supporting and protecting our nation’s interests around the world.” 

In 2011, Amazon launched its Military Programme in the UK, offering veterans the opportunity to pursue exciting post-military careers in operations, engineering, logistics HR, cloud computing and more.

Amazon also supports employees who continue to serve with the UK Military as members of the Armed Forces Reserve by ensuring that they will get up to two weeks of paid leave each year to attend training in addition to their annual leave. 

Amazon supports the Armed Forces community through a number of other programmes and career development opportunities. These include Amazon’s Military Ambassador Programme, an 18-month self-paced training and onboarding programme which helps new recruits acclimate to Amazon’s culture and processes. 

The Amazon Military Mentoring Programme is an initiative that offers peer mentorship with structured matching, screening, and monthly check-ins. As one of the first signees of the Armed Forces Covenant, Amazon is part of a national pledge to ensure that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly. 

Annual pay for Amazon Operations roles starts from £29,744 and in some locations, £31,824. Employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection and an employee discount as well as a company pension plan.