Former Royal Marine shares career journey

To mark Armed Forces Day 2026 (27 June) and Reserves Day 2026 (24 June), the team at Amazon in Swindon is celebrating the career journeys of the veterans and reservists who work at the company’s fulfilment centre in the town and across the UK.

David Desousa is a Senior RME Technician at Amazon in Swindon, where he currently leads on safety. A former Royal Marine of fifteen years, he joined Amazon in April 2021 and credits a network of fellow ex-Marines for pointing him in the right direction. 

He said: “When I was leaving the forces, I knew quite a few Royal Marines that worked for Amazon already. Through my transition year, I was speaking to a few of them, and they recommended Amazon. From there, I joined the company.” 

Originally from Epsom in Surrey, David's working life began in the motor trade as a tyre technician at HF Fuel Master. A foundation, he said, that shaped the path he would take into the military. He joined the Royal Marines in 2006, and after two years of general duties, specialised as a vehicle mechanic, a role he carried through the rest of his service before leaving in 2021. 

The transition into Amazon, he said, came with a learning curve. But not for the reasons he expected. 

He said: “If you’ve never been to Amazon before, the scale of the operation is a bit daunting at first. Working on conveyors and other conveyancing equipment was all kind of new to me. But my skills from the Royal Marines, being a vehicle mechanic, transferred over nicely, so I found my feet quite quickly.” 

He also points to a familiarity that goes beyond technical skills, which is something many veterans recognise the moment they walk through the door at Amazon. 

“The leadership principles, the way things are run - there are a lot of similarities. Half the workforce on the technician side are ex-military. Army, RAF, Navy, a few of us Royal Marines. There's a real camaraderie here.” 

Since joining Amazon, David has progressed quickly. He started as a Level 3 RME Technician, stepped up to senior technician, and is now leading on safety, with his sights firmly set on the next move. 

“For me, it's progression again. I'm looking at Level 5 area manager within the next couple of years. Long term, I see my career at Amazon. I've been here five years now and I’ve got the orange stripe round my badge. I'm happy.” 

For anyone currently serving and weighing up life beyond the forces, David's advice is straightforward. 

“I'd recommend Amazon. It's opened up loads of opportunities for me like working with different personalities, and career progression. Working alongside like-minded people who've left the military themselves offers me the camaraderie I loved in the forces.” 

As Armed Forces Day approaches, he reflects on what the moment means to him personally. 

“It's a reflection of your past career, and a reflection for any Armed Forces people out there on theirs. For me, it's a day to remember people I served with, including those who unfortunately lost their lives. That's what the day is about.” 

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. 

Amazon has 13 employee-led groups, sometimes known as affinity groups. They play an important role in bringing employees together and create a sense of community globally, while encouraging inclusivity and diversity. These groups include Warriors at Amazon, the Black Employee Network (BEN), People with Disabilities and Women at Amazon. 

Warriors at Amazon is an employee-led group that connects and empowers Amazon’s military community, with local chapters all over the world. 

Amazon has been named as a 'Top Employer UK 2026' by the Top Employer Institute, one of the world's most prestigious certifications in the field of human resources management. This award recognises Amazon's commitment to the development and well-being of its employees. In addition to the UK accolade, Amazon has also been certified as one of the Top Employers in Europe for a fourth consecutive year. 

To find out more about a career with Amazon, visit Amazon Jobs.