April 8, 2025

System Development Engineer, Hardware Engineering Services

Mid • On-site

$116,300 - $201,200/yr

Seattle, WA , +1

DESCRIPTION

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.

SysDE (System Development Engineer):
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Hardware Engineering team creates compute, storage, accelerator, and enterprise servers for Amazon’s innovative web services. We are seeking an experienced HW SysDE who collaborates with Server Hardware Engineers and completes the system design and software/script development work required to build next-generation servers and HW components. Our designs are industry-leading in performance, frugality and operational excellence, and are critical to the success of the AWS business and the more than one million customers who use AWS today. Our Hardware SysDE’s solve challenging technology problems, and builds architecturally sound, high-quality servers and components to enable AWS to realize critical business strategies. Our success depends on our highly respected server infrastructure; we’re handling massive scale and rapid integration of emergent technologies.

What you will do: As a member of the Edge and Specialized Hardware team, you’ll be responsible for the integration of hardware/software components to build our servers, working with service teams to define products, and supporting operations in all the locations we have servers. You will interact with engineers across the company and work with an interdisciplinary team to execute product designs from concept to production including design, development, validation, and the deployment of servers at scale.

You will solve design challenges across many disciplines including server firmware/software, integration into our software service control plane, manufacturing, and operations. You will deliver test plan coverage criteria, and monitoring plans used to build our servers and components. You will work closely with internal teams to prototype concept designs, bring up systems, and ensure our designs are of the highest quality. You will use high judgement to solve problems individually or guide others when help is needed.

This is a fast-paced, challenging position, and you’ll work with thought leaders in multiple technology areas. You’ll have high standards for yourself and everyone you work with, and you’ll be constantly looking for ways to improve your products performance, quality and cost. We’re changing an industry, and we want team members who are ready for this challenge and want to reach beyond what is possible today.

Why it matters: Public cloud IT services represent the majority of growth in the overall IT services market and will continue to do so for several years to come. The scale of AWS, combined with an understanding of how our hardware is used, creates a unique opportunity for hardware customizations that will directly benefit AWS customers.

Why you will love it: You will work directly with engineers across the company to build next-generation hardware. You will have a direct impact on our bottom line and the ability to deliver improvements for our customers. You will be part of a growing, fast paced, and fun team. You will have ownership for the implementation of your work.

Key job responsibilities
As HW SysDE you will be part of a team that solves systemic issues, drives changes back into development, and builds mechanisms to scale and efficiently operate our infrastructure. As a member of the AWS Hardware team, you will work with other subject matter experts in compute, memory, storage technologies to develop and deliver the best customer experience in cloud computing.
We aim to hire engineers who will thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative and open environment, who aren't afraid to dive-deep to solve seemingly impossible challenges, who want to build rock solid never-fail, highly-secure hardware at world-class scale and who obsess over customers.

A day in the life
Your day to day responsibilities will include leading the Hardware Engineering (HWEng) System Development (SysDE) effort to define and build software and enabling tools, according to defined HWEng Software development best practices. You will be responsible for solving operational challenges to our existing fleet with the goal of improving the current customer experience as well as developing improved systems for future designs. You will interface with internal HWEng teams to ensure chosen HW and FW delivers performance, reliability, and operational health needed by the EC2 Specialized Platforms and Servers. You will build, manage, and deploy pipelines for rapid deployment of new code changes to EC2 Specialized Platforms and Servers. You will build monitoring tools and metrics to ensure hardware is running properly in both test and production environments.

About the team
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. You’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.
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

- 4+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 3+ 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
- 3+ years of deploying and operating in a Linux/Unix environment experience
- 2+ years of systems design, software development, operations, automation, and process improvement experience.
- Experience with x86 architecture, as well as ARM, and FPGA devices
- Experience with modern technology devices in storage, networking, memory as well as a variety of interface standards and protocols (I2C, IPMI, SPI, PCIe)
- Excellent problem solving skills; ability to invent and simplify
- BS degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or other technical degree, or relevant work experience

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Experience working in an Agile environment using the Scrum methodology
- 4+ years of SysDE (Systems Development Engineer) or equivalent experience
- 4+ years of server systems debug experience; debugging and root causing complex server platforms
- 4+ years of experience contributing towards increasing durability, security, availability and scalability of systems through exploration, diagnosis and remediation
- Experience integrating software applications into automated environments
- Experience developing, deploying, and owning cloud applications
- Familiarity with AWS and EC2, with ideally hands on experience
- Experience with DNS, DHCP, SSH, HTTP, TCP/IP and other common network protocols
- Ability to dive deep to analyze complex issues, solve problems, and automate repetitive tasks
- Experience in developing functional design specifications, validation plans and functional test procedures
- Experience with server technologies: BIOS, BMC, signal integrity, memory, storage, networking, PCIe, and thermal
- Excellent verbal and written communication, as well as documentation skills

Amazon is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, 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.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $116,300/year in our lowest geographic market up to $201,200/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits. This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.

Amazon

Amazon.com, Inc. founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos in the cozy confines of his Seattle garage, Amazon.com, Inc. quickly evolved from a humble online bookstore to a colossal e-commerce powerhouse. Today, it offers an extensive range of products from DVDs and electronics to furniture and groceries. With a global footprint that spans continents—from Canada and the UK to Japan and Brazil—Amazon's presence is truly international. The company has not only diversified into various domains, including acquiring Twitch in 2014 and venturing into the film industry in 2015, but also introduced initiatives like the brand registry program to safeguard intellectual property. Despite the hurdles of labor relations and competitive practices, Amazon remains a dominant force in the global e-commerce landscape.