AmazonSoftware Development Engineer - Linux Kernel, AWS Hardware Engineering
Amazon is hiring a Software Development Engineer - Linux Kernel, AWS Hardware Engineering in Seattle, United States. It pays $193k-$262k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Level.
AI in this role
Design and develop Linux kernel and firmware solutions for AWS servers powering cloud and AI/ML infrastructure.
Join AWS Hardware Engineering to design the servers powering the world's leading cloud platform and AI/ML infrastructure. We're seeking an exceptional Linux Kernel Engineer to accelerate critical kernel initiatives across millions of servers worldwide.
We are seeking an exceptional Linux Kernel Engineer to join our server firmware team. In this role, you will lead Linux kernel patching, code development, and version adoption for our server management controllers across a massive global fleet. You will ensure our kernel remains current, secure, and compliant with strict patching service-level agreements that directly impact AWS infrastructure reliability. Your work will power the backbone of AWS compute infrastructure, including the servers that enable AI/ML workloads for customers worldwide.
The ideal candidate will be an innovative self-starter with deep expertise in Linux kernel internals, device driver development, and embedded Linux systems. You will gain comprehensive understanding of our server firmware kernel stack and analyze it in both current and future contexts. Using your systems knowledge, you will architect solutions to complex multi-factor problems, including kernel upgrade strategies that minimize customer impact, address security vulnerabilities rapidly, and optimize operational efficiency across millions of servers supporting diverse workloads from traditional compute to advanced machine learning applications.
You will collaborate with engineers across AWS and external partners, leading development efforts that span kernel security, hardware enablement, and platform services teams. Your work will directly contribute to critical initiatives that keep our infrastructure patched, secure, and operationally excellent—ensuring the foundation for tomorrow's AI/ML innovations remains robust and scalable.
AWS Engineers are shaping the way people use computers and designing the future of cloud computing technology – come help us make history!
Key job responsibilities
Design and develop firmware solutions for AWS servers, contributing to server designs that power millions of customer workloads.
Lead the complete development lifecycle from initial conception through production deployment, ensuring robust and scalable firmware implementations across our massive server fleet.
Architect and implement firmware deployment strategies that minimize customer impact while maintaining the highest standards of security and operational excellence.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including hardware engineers, validation teams, software services to optimize functionality and performance.
Explore and evaluate emerging technologies and their potential impact on AWS infrastructure, making recommendations for adoption and integration into our firmware stack.
Drive technical solutions for problems, balancing security requirements, operational efficiency, and system reliability.
Tailor firmware solutions specifically for the AWS environment, ensuring seamless integration with our unique infrastructure requirements and operational workflows.
Mentor team members and contribute to the continuous improvement of development processes, tools, and best practices.
A day in the life
Most mornings, you'll dive into code—whether that's developing new security features, optimizing firmware deployment strategies, or debugging a tricky issue that's affecting a subset of servers.
You'll collaborate a lot. Maybe it's a quick sync with platform teams about an upcoming deployment, or a deeper technical discussion with hardware engineers about a new server design. You might work with internal customers to understand their requirements.
Some days you'll be architecting solutions to complex problems. Other days you might be mentoring a teammate through a code review or exploring a new technology that could improve our firmware stack.
Basic qualifications
- 5+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience
- 5+ years of leading design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
Preferred qualifications
- 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
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, Cupertino - 193,300.00 - 261,500.00 USD annually
USA, CO, Denver - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually
USA, OR, Portland - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually
How we rate this
Software Development Engineer - Linux Kernel, AWS Hardware Engineering 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. Open the description and count.
Prepare for this job
A free preview built only from this posting: what it asks for, what you could be asked in an interview, and how to adjust your resume.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where linux kernel was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where firmware was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where device drivers was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where embedded systems was part of your work. What did you do?
- Walk me through how you've used Linux in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Linux Kernel, Firmware, Device Drivers, Embedded Systems, and Linux. 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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