Sr. SDE, EC2 Nitro Networking, EC2 Nitro Networking

Amazon is hiring a Sr. SDE, EC2 Nitro Networking, EC2 Nitro Networking in Seattle, United States. It pays $168k-$227k a year and 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.
The listed pay starts close to the typical software engineer posting on Level.
Tools and skills the posting cites include AWS, Nitro and EC2.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Lead the design of software-defined networking dataplane stacks optimizing EC2 infrastructure for machine learning and high-performance computing workloads.

AWSNitroEC2

software-engineeringnetworkingdistributed-systemssystem-software

We’re at an exciting juncture to redefine the future of EC2 networking for Cloud Computing in 2026. To achieve our ambitious goals, we’re expanding our team and looking for talented engineers like you to be part of this journey.

You will be part of a team that owns the software-defined networking (SDN) dataplane stack that powers EC2 networking across diverse applications such as Machine Learning, Cloud Gaming, Health, Fintech, and Video Streaming. Your work will impact millions of customers globally, delivering secure, scalable, and high-performance networking solutions at incredible scale.

As a Sr. SDE on this team, you will own defining, implementing, and delivering performance and availability optimizations that power Machine Learning workloads across HPC and Accelerated Platforms in EC2 Nitro.

We are seeking a Sr. Software Engineer with experience in Dataplane development, System Software/Embedded software, Cloud Computing, and Networking to join our team. This role will allow you to influence and impact multiple technology areas, providing an opportunity to innovate across a variety of platforms and systems.

With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, you are surrounded by talent that will provide you opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge.

Key job responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end design, scoping, implementation, and integration testing of performance optimizations and dataplane features that run on the EC2 Nitro System that power Machine Learning workloads.
- You set high standards for development processes, tools, and automation to enhance team productivity and quality.
- Own the team architecture and define best engineering practices on design and coding.
- You identify business problems and opportunities, and advocate for technical solutions that influences the technical roadmap for your team and partner teams.
- Mentor junior engineers with scoping, design, and developing scalable and maintainable code.
- Collaborate with Principal Engineers, Product Managers, Sr TPMs, and cross-functional teams to define requirements, system architectures, and implement robust and scalable solutions.

Basic qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
- 7+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 7+ 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
- 7+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
- Experience in embedded development in C/C++
- Knowledge of system performance, memory management, and parallel computing principles

Preferred qualifications

- Experience with Machine Learning and Large Language Model fundamentals, including architecture, training/inference lifecycles, and optimization of model execution
- Knowledge of machine learning model architecture and inference
- Experience developing low-level systems software, networking dataplane, or performance-critical services

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

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, WA, Seattle - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Sr. SDE, EC2 Nitro Networking, EC2 Nitro Networking at Amazon rates 20 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

Sr. SDE, EC2 Nitro Networking, EC2 Nitro Networking is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $168k-$227k a year.
The role is based in US, WA, Seattle.
The job was posted on September 24, 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

Software EngineeringNetworkingDistributed SystemsSystem SoftwareAWSNitroEC2

Also common in software engineer jobs at this level

Python Java Kubernetes TypeScript React Docker

Pay

This job starts at: $168k
Typical software engineer job: $167k

This posting starts close to the typical software engineer job. See software engineer jobs

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where software engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where networking 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 system software was part of your work. What did you do?
Walk me through how you've used AWS in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Software Engineering, Networking, Distributed Systems, System Software, and AWS. 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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