Kernel/Hypervisor Engineer, EC2 Core Compute

Amazon is hiring a Kernel/Hypervisor Engineer, EC2 Core Compute in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $165k-$224k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

Uses AI ●●○○ is how Level rates this role: an ordinary role that requires AI tools.
Tools and skills the posting cites include C, Linux and Hypervisor.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 21,000+ other open roles at Amazon.
The role was posted within the past week.

AI in this role

Develop the EC2 Nitro Hypervisor and low-level virtualization software stacks while leveraging AI tools for technical problem-solving.

clinuxhypervisor

kernelvirtualizationcloud-computingsystem-architecture

EC2 Core Compute is looking for an experienced Kernel & Hypervisor Engineer for one of our virtualization organizations. As part of the team, you will be given the chance to have a significant impact on our systems, our business and most importantly our customers, working in diverse work environment with a flexible schedule.

You will be building the lowest layer of the Amazon Web Services software stack, developing the EC2 Nitro Hypervisor for AWS, operating the hardware and off-host software components and engineering new EC2 Nitro instance families. You will have the opportunity to innovate, make new engineering proposals, and explore new areas.

For more information please feel free to visit https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/nitro/

Utility Computing (UC)

AWS Utility Computing (UC) provides product innovations — from foundational services such as Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), to consistently released new product innovations that continue to set AWS’s services and features apart in the industry. As a member of the UC organization, you’ll support the development and management of Compute, Database, Storage, Internet of Things (Iot), Platform, and Productivity Apps services in AWS, including support for customers who require specialized security solutions for their cloud services.

Key job responsibilities
- Take end to end ownership of the software development life cycle: You will build new solutions across the virtualization software stack; developing virtualization components and automating infrastructure flows. This includes design, testing and deployment.

- Drive operational excellence, improving the quality of the hypervisor and our instance platforms.

- Influence and contribute to the technological roadmap of your team.

- Work with other EC2 teams like hardware, software and firmware groups across the globe, driving innovative solutions.

- Openness to leveraging AI tools and technologies to enhance productivity and technical problem-solving.

A day in the life
You will:

- Work with your manager and other engineers in delivering to the roadmap.
- Focus on high quality delivery and operational excellence.
- Solve technical challenges impacting our customers.

About the team
EC2 Core Compute has a two-fold mission:

- Leave no customer workload on-premises by engineering new EC2 instance families with latest generation of CPUs
- Build the most secure, performant and feature-rich virtualization technology in the cloud.

About AWS
Diverse Experiences
AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.
Why AWS?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.
Inclusive Team Culture
AWS values curiosity and connection. Our employee-led and company-sponsored affinity groups promote inclusion and empower our people to take pride in what makes us unique. Our inclusion events foster stronger, more collaborative teams. Our continual innovation is fueled by the bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and passionate voices our teams bring to everything we do.
Mentorship & Career Growth
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

Basic qualifications

- Experience working with Linux
- Experience in professional, non-internship software development, or experience in embedded development in C/C++
- Experience in computer architecture, or experience leading the architecture and design (architecture, design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and current systems
- Knowledge of UNIX/Linux operating system

Preferred qualifications

- 4+ years of Linux operating systems experience
- Experience with virtualization (Hypervisors, VMware, Xen), or experience in Linux/RHEL
- Experience in performant kernel development (CUTLASS, FlashInfer), or experience with interrupt service routines

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

USA, CA, SANTA CLARA - 165,200.00 - 223,600.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Kernel/Hypervisor Engineer, EC2 Core Compute at Amazon rates 40 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Uses AI (AI Level 2 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Uses AI. An ordinary role that requires AI tools.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Kernel/Hypervisor Engineer, EC2 Core Compute is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 2 of 4: Uses AI.
The listed salary is $165k-$224k a year.
The role is based in US, CA, Santa Clara.
The job was posted on October 27, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by Amazon. Apply on Amazon

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

KernelVirtualizationCloud ComputingSystem ArchitectureCLinuxHypervisor

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where kernel was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where virtualization was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where cloud computing was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where system architecture was part of your work. What did you do?
Walk me through how you've used C in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Kernel, Virtualization, Cloud Computing, System Architecture, and C. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
Put the AI tool in a bullet point about what you did, not just in a skills list. This role treats it as a required part of the job.

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