Sr. System Dev Engineer, EC2 Core Platforms Engineering

Amazon is hiring a Sr. System Dev Engineer, EC2 Core Platforms Engineering in Seattle, United States. It pays $151k-$205k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

Level rates this role Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
The posting mentions AWS, Linux and Python among its tools and skills.
Level classes it as a senior role.
Amazon has 21,000+ other open roles on Level.
Posted in the last few days.

AI in this role

Lead system development and automation for EC2 core platform infrastructure and server launches.

awslinuxpython

systems-engineeringfirmwareautomationcloud-computinginfrastructure

Build the systems that bring Amazon's newest servers to life. As a Systems Development Engineer on EC2 Core Platforms Engineering, you'll lead the technical direction for how we launch new compute platforms, keep the core fleet healthy at massive scale, and automate the way we build, working at the seam between hardware and software.

We own the quality, performance, and reliability of the platforms that host EC2 instances, from lab bring-up through general availability. You'll lead the bring-up and validation of new EC2 server platforms, driving the technical plan across Nitro firmware, operating systems, and provisioning. You'll also set the approach for diagnosing and reducing failures across the core fleet, working to eliminate whole classes of failure rather than individual instances. A big part of the role is defining the architecture for the automation, including AI-driven tooling, that makes platform launches faster, safer, and more repeatable, and driving its adoption across the team and our partners.

You'll partner with hardware engineering, Annapurna, and the Nitro component teams, working on some of the largest compute fleets in the world, where a single improvement in reliability or build automation compounds across millions of hosts. You'll influence the technical strategy and roadmaps of these teams, build consensus where priorities compete, and bring clarity to problems where the right solution isn't yet defined.

Key job responsibilities
- Lead the bring-up and validation of new server platforms that host cloud compute instances, owning the technical plan from early lab testing through production launch, and bringing in hardware, firmware, and Nitro experts where the work needs them.
- Own the approach to reducing hardware and software failures across a large-scale server fleet. Use data to find root causes, and drive permanent fixes and mechanisms that eliminate entire classes of failure and improve reliability.
- Design and lead the software and automation that streamline how new platforms are introduced, setting the standard for provisioning, deployment, and validation so platforms reach production faster and with a high quality bar.
- Take on ambiguous, difficult problems that span firmware, operating systems, networking, and infrastructure. Define the technical strategy and break the work into pieces that you and others can deliver in parallel.
- Improve the safety, agility, and automation of the build and launch process across the team and partner teams. Review designs, operational readiness reviews, post-incident analyses, and code, and raise the bar for operational excellence.
- Mentor and coach engineers, take part in hiring, and help the team succeed without depending on your presence.

Basic qualifications

- 3+ years of programming with at least one modern language such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Golang, PowerShell, Ruby experience
- 4+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 2+ years of designing or architecting (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals (networking, storage, operating systems)
- Experience programming with at least one modern language such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Golang, PowerShell, Ruby

Preferred qualifications

- 1+ years of development/programming/scripting language (Python/Java/Bash/Perl) experience
- Knowledge of engineering practices and patterns for the full software/hardware/networks development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, certification, and livesite operations
- Knowledge of hardware platforms

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 - 151,200.00 - 204,600.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Sr. System Dev Engineer, EC2 Core Platforms Engineering 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

Sr. System Dev Engineer, EC2 Core Platforms Engineering is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $151k-$205k a year.
The role is based in US, WA, Seattle.
The job was posted on October 29, 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

Systems EngineeringFirmwareAutomationCloud ComputingInfrastructureAWSLinuxPython

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where systems engineering 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 automation 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 infrastructure was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Systems Engineering, Firmware, Automation, Cloud Computing, and Infrastructure. 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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