Systems Development Engineer, Astra ADC

Amazon is hiring a Systems Development Engineer, Astra ADC in Arlington, United States. It pays $99k-$160k 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, cloud computing and systems engineering.
Level classifies it as a junior role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Systems Development Engineer to own and advance mission-critical cloud infrastructure services in air-gapped regions.

Linux

cloud-computingsystems-engineeringnetworkingautomationdistributed-systems

Do you enjoy helping U.S. Intelligence Community and Defense agencies implement innovative cloud computing solutions and solve unique technical problems? Would you like to do this using the latest cloud technologies while becoming a core part of the largest cloud infrastructure on the planet? Amazon Web Services (AWS) is seeking a Systems Development Engineer I to own and advance mission-critical services in our Amazon Dedicated Clouds (ADC).

We are looking for a Systems Development Engineer to work as part of the Amazon Software Builder Experience (ASBX) Astra ADC team, which owns the foundational services that every Amazon builder depends on to develop, deploy, and operate software in air-gapped regions. Our team ensures services like Apollo (deployment), Pipelines (continuous delivery), Test on Demand/Hydra (integration testing), AppConfig (feature management), and Multi-Region (resource replication) maintain parity, reliability, and security across all isolated partitions. You'll help design, implement, and support resilient, high-performance systems that enable thousands of Amazon builders to ship software safely in environments where standard commercial tooling doesn't exist.

You'll be part of a truly innovative team in a fast-paced environment that has the entrepreneurial feel of a start-up. This is an opportunity to design, build, and operate systems on a massive scale, and to gain top-notch experience in cloud computing. You'll be surrounded by people who are passionate about cloud computing and believe that world-class service is critical to customer success.

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. You should have deep experience working with Linux, preferably in a large-scale, distributed environment. You understand networking technology and how servers and networks inter-relate.
- Think Big. You 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.
- Have experience in systems development, software engineering, or a related field.
- Possess strong technical skills in systems design, software development, operations, automation, and process improvement.
- Have experience in designing and implementing resilient, scalable, and efficient technology solutions.
- Be proficient in at least one programming language and familiar with cloud technologies.
- Have excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to break down complex issues into manageable components.
- Demonstrate strong communication skills and the ability to influence technical decisions across teams.
- Have a passion for operational excellence and continuous improvement.

This position requires that the candidate selected must currently possess and maintain an active TS/SCI security clearance with polygraph. The position further requires the candidate to opt into a commensurate clearance for each government agency for which they perform AWS work.

Key job responsibilities
As a Systems Development Engineer you will:
- Design and deliver technology solutions to solve difficult business problems, improving resilience, performance, and operational efficiency of our systems.
- Work autonomously on components, applications, and technology solutions that enhance a major portion of our products or applications.
- Help solve ambiguous problems, architectural deficiencies, or areas where our systems hinder the innovation of other teams.
- Participate in design, scoping, and prioritization discussions, making technical trade-offs and calculating costs of proposed solutions.
- Participate in reviews of architecture, design, operations, and post-incident analysis for your team.
- Troubleshoot difficult problems, researching root causes and thoroughly resolving defects.
- Participate in an on-call rotation to support mission-critical services.

A day in the life
On a “typical” day, our engineers may dive deep to find the root cause of a customer issue, investigate why a metric is trending in the wrong direction, or discuss radical new approaches to automate operational processes. As a member of our team you will join a dedicated group of engineers who provide troubleshooting and operations support, and innovate to automate operational tasks.

About the team
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.

You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Basic qualifications

- Associate's degree or above, or CND (Certified Network Defender) or GSEC (GIAC Security Essentials)
- Experience programming with at least one modern language such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Golang, PowerShell, Ruby
- Experience tools for automation (building, testing, releasing or monitoring)
- Current, active US Government Security Clearance of TS/SCI with Polygraph

Preferred qualifications

- Knowledge of and proficiency in the use of Python scripting language
- Experience on highly concurrent, high throughput systems and knowledge of complex distributed systems

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 - 99,100.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Systems Development Engineer, Astra 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

Systems Development Engineer, Astra ADC is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $99k-$160k a year.
The role is based in US, VA, Arlington.
The job was posted on July 7, 2026.
Seniority: junior.
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

Cloud ComputingSystems EngineeringNetworkingAutomationDistributed SystemsLinux

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