System Development Engineer, DBS Relational ADC

Amazon is hiring a System Development Engineer, DBS Relational ADC in Arlington, United States. It pays $129k-$175k 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.
Tools and skills the posting cites include Linux, Java and Python.
Level classifies it as a mid-level role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Design and implement massively scalable distributed systems and cloud computing infrastructure for AWS.

LinuxJavaPythonAWS

software-developmentdistributed-systemstroubleshootingnetworking

The Amazon Web Services team is innovating new ways of building massively scalable distributed systems and delivering the next generation of cloud computing with AWS offerings like RDS and Aurora. In 2013, AWS launched 280 services, but in 2016 alone we released nearly 1000. We hold high standards for our computer systems and the services we deliver to our customers: our systems are highly secure, highly reliable, highly available, all while functioning at massive scale; our employees are smart, passionate about the cloud, driven to serve customers, and fun to work with.

A successful engineer joining the team will do much more than write code and triage problems. They will work with Amazon's largest and most demanding customers to address specific needs across a full suite of services. They will dive deeply into technical issues and work diligently to improve the customer experience. The ideal candidate will...
- Be great fun to work with. Our company credo is "Work hard. Have fun. Make history". The right candidate will love what they do and instinctively know how to make work fun.
- Have strong Linux & Networking Fundamentals. The ideal candidate will have deep experience working with Linux, preferably in a large scale, distributed environment. You understand networking technology and how servers and networks inter-relate. You regularly take part in deep-dive troubleshooting and conduct technical post-mortem discussions to identify the root cause of complex issues.
- Love to code. Whether its building tools in Java or solving complex system problems in Python, the ideal candidate will love using technology to solve problems. You have a solid understanding of software development methodology and know how to use the right tool for the right job.
- Think Big. The ideal candidate will build and deploy solutions across thousands of devices. You will strive to improve and streamline processes to allow for work on a massive scale.

This position requires that the candidate selected must currently possess and maintain an active TS/SCI security clearance. The position further requires that, after start, the selected candidate obtain and maintain an active TS/SCI security clearance with polygraph or commensurate clearance for each government agency for which they perform AWS work.

Key job responsibilities
- You design, implement, and deploy software components and features. You solve difficult problems generating positive feedback.

- You have a solid understanding of design approaches (and how to best use them).

- You are able to work independently and with your team to deliver software successfully.

- Your work is consistently of a high quality (e.g., secure, testable, maintainable, low-defects, efficient, etc.) and incorporates best practices. Your team trusts your work.

- Your code reviews tend to be rapid and uneventful. You provide useful code reviews for changes submitted by others.

- You focus on operational excellence, constructively identifying problems and proposing solutions, taking on projects that improve your team’s software, making it better and easier to maintain.

- You make improvements to your team’s development and testing processes.

- You have established good working relationships with peers. You recognize discordant views and take part in constructive dialogue to resolve them.

- You are able to confidently train new team-mates about your customers, what your team’s software does, how it is constructed, tested, operates, and how it fits into the bigger picture.

A day in the life
Engineers in this role will work on automation, development, and operations to support AWS machine learning services for US government customers. They will work in an agile environment, attend daily standup, and collaborate closely with teammates. They will work on exciting challenges at scale and tackle unsolved problems.
They will support the U.S. Intelligence Community and Defense agencies to implement innovative cloud computing solutions and solve unique technical problems.

About the team
Why AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.

AWS Infrastructure Services (AIS)
AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help.

Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.

Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve in the cloud.

Mentorship and Career Growth
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.

Diverse Experiences
Amazon values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.

Basic qualifications

- Bachelor's degree, or CSSLP (Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional)
- 3+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 1+ years of designing or architecting (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience programming with at least one modern language such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Golang, PowerShell, Ruby
- 3+ years of administrative experience in networking, storage systems, operating systems and hands-on systems engineering experience
- Knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals (networking, storage, operating systems)
- Current, active US Government Security Clearance of Top Secret with SCI eligibility or above

Preferred qualifications

- Experience with PowerShell (preferred), Python, Ruby, or Java
- Experience working in an Agile environment using the Scrum methodology

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, VA, Arlington - 129,200.00 - 174,800.00 USD annually

How we rate this

System Development Engineer, DBS Relational ADC at Amazon rates 0 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

System Development Engineer, DBS Relational ADC is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $129k-$175k a year.
The role is based in US, VA, Arlington.
The job was posted on September 24, 2026.
Seniority: mid.
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 DevelopmentDistributed SystemsTroubleshootingNetworkingLinuxJavaPythonAWS

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where software development 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 troubleshooting 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?
Walk me through how you've used Linux in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Software Development, Distributed Systems, Troubleshooting, Networking, 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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