Principal Software Engineer, Amazon Shipping

Amazon is hiring a Principal Software Engineer, Amazon Shipping in Hyderabad, India. Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

On Level's scale, this software engineer role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
Tools and skills the posting cites include optimization, algorithms and software architecture.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Principal software engineer building complex network and logistics optimization systems for Amazon Shipping.

optimizationalgorithmssoftware-architectureoperations-research

You will build the optimization brain for Amazon's externalized logistics network — a system that couples first-mile route planning with middle-mile network optimization into a joint iterative loop, producing end-to-end recommendations that no single optimizer can reach alone. The technical challenge is real: solvers that take hours per run, a combinatorial search space that defies brute-force, model gaps that require deep-diving into solver internals, and convergence that must be proven across independently owned engines. This is not a scale or latency problem — it's a multi-system optimization convergence problem where you invent the pruning, approximation, and coupling strategies. Your recommendations will directly shape commercial decisions — which shippers to pursue, which geographies to grow, which contracts to reprice — giving this role rare direct business impact for a PE position.

In addition, you will provide tech leadership to the fulfillment charter for Amazon Shipping where you will be responsible for increasing the label conversion rates that would be a key enabler for revenue growth; identify solutions such as dynamic network capacity management to build a resilient network topology; identify and build speed opportunities in the upstream planning systems; and solve unique challenges related to delivery addresses for an externalized supply chain business where orders are created outside amazon marketplace.

You will also be responsible for architectural integrity and scalability of fulfillment systems by (1) identifying interface contracts with partner tech teams (2) making the architecture more nimble and self-serve for faster time-to-market of new capabilities (3) improving resiliency and availability of Tier-1 systems (4) optimizing the level of service orchestration within the fulfillment systems.

Key job responsibilities
• Architect the joint FM-MM optimization loop: state-passing contracts, convergence detection, parallel execution, and checkpoint/restart
• Solve computational tractability through smart pruning, lightweight solvers, and metaheuristic search at network scale
• Drive cross-org alignment across 5+ organizations — securing stable interfaces and committed roadmap items
• Translate optimization outputs into actionable recommendations for Operations (node mapping, capacity), Commercial (shipper targets, geographies), and Finance (cost-to-serve, contract economics)
• Mentor a team of Applied Scientists and SDEs; set technical bar and build experimentation culture
• Define and execute the phased roadmap: FM cost optimizer (Phase 1) → joint FM-MM optimizer (Phase 2) → decision engines that close the loop from network optimization to commercial strategy (Phase 3)
• Own system validation and accuracy: design feedback loops from actual vs. predicted outcomes, detect degradation, and define refresh cadence

Basic qualifications

• 12+ years of software development with increasing scope; 7+ years in system architecture
• Demonstrated ability to take ambiguous problem spaces — where requirements, success metrics, and solution approach are all undefined — and drive them to concrete technical strategy and execution
• Experience communicating with technical teams, business stakeholders, and leadership to collect requirements, describe technical designs, and align on product strategy
• Track record of influencing technical direction across 5+ partner organizations without direct authority
• Experience mentoring senior engineers and scientists
• Experience building decision-support systems adopted by non-technical stakeholders

Preferred qualifications

• M.S./Ph.D. in Operations Research, CS, Applied Math, or related field
• Expertise in logistics optimization: vehicle routing, network design, or supply chain planning at scale
• Deep expertise in optimization systems, operations research, or simulation — building production systems that solve combinatorial optimization or search problems
• Experience with iterative optimization or metaheuristic frameworks in production

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.

How we rate this

Principal Software Engineer, Amazon Shipping at Amazon rates 25 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.

Classification

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.

Key facts

Principal Software Engineer, Amazon Shipping is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The role is based in IN, TS, Hyderabad.
The job was posted on July 28, 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

OptimizationAlgorithmsSoftware ArchitectureOperations Research

Also common in software engineer jobs at this level

Python Java AWS C++Kubernetes TypeScript

Pay

Typical software engineer job: $167k

This posting doesn't list pay. Use the typical software engineer figure when pay comes up. See software engineer jobs

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where optimization was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where algorithms was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where software architecture was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where operations research was part of your work. What did you do?

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List these exact terms on your resume: Optimization, Algorithms, Software Architecture, and Operations Research. 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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