AmazonPrincipal Engineer & Senior Principal Engineer, Distributed Systems, Distributed Systems
Amazon is hiring a Principal Engineer & Senior Principal Engineer, Distributed Systems, Distributed Systems in Seattle, United States. It pays $230k-$311k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.
Level's read on this job
- On Level's scale, this role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
- The posting mentions Distributed Systems, AWS and system architecture among its tools and skills.
- Level classes it as a lead role.
- Amazon has 21,000+ other open roles on Level.
- Posted within the past two weeks.
AI in this role
Lead technical direction and architecture for distributed systems powering AWS infrastructure, demand forecasting, and supply chain automation.
Infrastructure Services operates like a startup that ships at hyperscale. We own the full stack — from demand forecasting algorithms and supply chain planning systems to fleet security and network architecture — and every system we build goes live supporting production infrastructure serving millions of customers. There's no handoff to another team. You see it through.
As a Principal or Senior Principal Engineer here, you'll set the technical direction for the intelligent systems layer that powers AWS's data centers. That means making the calls that ripple across the entire infrastructure lifecycle: architecting distributed software that determines how efficiently we utilize billions in electrical capacity, designing supply chain automation that decides whether AWS can deliver capacity in weeks or months, driving security strategies that protect the world's most targeted infrastructure from provisioning through decommissioning, and defining network architectures that connect it all at hyperscale.
You'll work across Infrastructure Services' full breadth of specializations — power utilization and capacity planning, supply chain automation and optimization, infrastructure security and fleet lifecycle management, and network engineering — bringing clarity to cross-cutting technical decisions that no single team can resolve alone. You'll mentor technical leads, raise the engineering bar, and partner directly with senior leadership across multiple VP organizations to shape our roadmap. The systems you influence will optimize power across thousands of data centers, automate supply chains managing billions in assets, secure infrastructure against nation-state threats, and connect it all through networks operating at unprecedented scale — the intelligent foundation that makes AWS possible.
Key job responsibilities
• Deliver strategic technical projects and architect next-generation infrastructure systems at AWS scale
• Lead architecture and engineering strategy across one or more domains: power utilization, supply chain automation, infrastructure security, or network engineering
• Drive large-scale architectural transformations, defining technical standards and solving complex challenges at unprecedented scale and complexity
• Partner with senior leadership across multiple organizations to influence cross-organizational product and technical strategy
• Mentor and guide engineers while solving complex technical challenges hands-on
• Work cross-functionally with Principal Engineers and teams across Infrastructure Services' specializations — from capacity planning to fleet security
• Scout and recruit top technical talent, actively growing the engineering community
• Drive a strong engineering excellence and operational culture across all products and teams
• Shape technical direction for systems critical to delivering and operating production infrastructure that powers AWS
• Balance technical expertise with strong analytical skills to make informed architectural decisions
About the team
AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. We specialize in the systems that keep the cloud running. Our software platforms, automation engines, security infrastructure, and network architecture orchestrate billions of dollars in infrastructure assets — managing everything from rack planning and power utilization to supply chain fulfillment and fleet lifecycle security. When AWS scales to meet demand that didn't exist yesterday, it's because our systems made it possible. Every architectural decision we make reverberates across millions of workloads and customers worldwide.
Basic qualifications
• 10+ years of professional software development or systems engineering experience
• Experience building high-performance, highly-available, and scalable distributed systems
• Experience leading design or architecture of new and existing systems at scale
• Experience as a mentor, tech lead, or leading an engineering team
Preferred qualifications
• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
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.
Pursuant to the San Francisco 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, SAN FRANCISCO - 230,100.00 - 311,200.00 USD annually
USA, CA, SANTA CLARA - 230,100.00 - 311,200.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Arlington - 200,100.00 - 270,600.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Herndon - 200,100.00 - 270,600.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 200,100.00 - 270,600.00 USD annually
How we rate this
Principal Engineer & Senior Principal Engineer, Distributed Systems, Distributed Systems at Amazon rates 10 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● 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.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where system architecture was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where distributed systems was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where technical strategy was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where supply chain optimization was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where network engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: System Architecture, Distributed Systems, Technical Strategy, Supply Chain Optimization, and Network Engineering. 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.
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