Director, Amazon Dedicated Cloud Data Center Operations

Socket.dev; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 219,000 - 296,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Web Services in Washington, DC is seeking a Director to lead Dedicated Cloud Data Center Operations, responsible for end-to-end operational excellence of air-gapped, classified regions serving the U.S. Intelligence Community and DoD.

The role oversees DC Operations, Systems and Planning, Network Design and Deployment, and Security across ADC regions, while building a high-performing cleared team and ensuring accreditation and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in data center operations, infrastructure, engineering, or related leadership roles.
• 5+ years of people leadership, including managing senior managers and directors.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.
• Experience operating in classified, air-gapped environments.

Responsibilities

• Own operational strategy and continuous improvement of ADC data center regions.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary org spanning Operations, Systems and Planning, Network Design, and Security.
• Define long-term infrastructure operations roadmap aligned with government mission requirements.
• Drive innovation in air-gapped environments leveraging commercial cloud practices.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure capacity delivery and readiness.
• Interface with US Government customers, translating mission needs into priorities.
• Maintain accreditation and regulatory compliance with compliance, legal, and security teams.
• Define and own KPIs for availability, incident response, and security posture.

Skills

Operational leadership

Security clearance

Government/regulatory experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/CS or related field

Tools

Cloud security controls

Job description

Amazon Web Services is seeking an experienced Director to lead Amazon Dedicated Cloud Data Center Operations, responsible for the end-to-end operational excellence of AWS's air-gapped, classified cloud regions serving the U.S. Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. This leader will own DC Operations, DC Systems and Planning, Network Infrastructure Design and Deployment, Infrastructure Systems/Tooling/Operations, and physical security across all ADC regions.

This is a critical leadership role at the intersection of national security and cloud infrastructure - delivering secure, resilient, and highly available compute environments for the most sensitive workloads in the U.S. Government.

Key job responsibilities

• Own the operational strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of all Amazon Dedicated Cloud data center regions across air-gapped environments with no physical or logical connectivity to AWS commercial networks
• Lead a multi-disciplinary organization spanning DC Operations, DC Systems and Planning, Network Infrastructure Design and Deployment, Infrastructure Systems/Tooling/Operations, and Physical Security
• Define the long-term infrastructure operations roadmap, aligning with AWS's broader growth strategy and evolving U.S. Government mission requirements
• Drive innovation in how classified cloud environments are built, operated, and scaled - bringing commercial cloud best practices into air-gapped regions
• Partner cross-functionally with AWS Network Engineering, DC Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, and DC Planning and Delivery to ensure seamless capacity delivery and operational readiness
• Serve as a key interface with U.S. Government customers and stakeholders, translating mission needs into infrastructure priorities
• Collaborate with compliance, legal, and security teams to maintain accreditation and meet evolving regulatory requirements
• Define and own operational KPIs - availability, incident response, capacity utilization, and security posture - providing executive-level visibility into operational health, risk, and investment needs
• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing team of cleared infrastructure professionals; foster a culture of ownership, innovation, and operational discipline
• Develop succession plans and invest in career growth across the organization

Basic Qualifications

• 10+ years in data center operations, infrastructure, engineering, or related technical leadership roles
• 5+ years of people leadership experience, including managing senior managers and directors
• Active TS/SCI security clearance
• Experience operating in classified, air-gapped, or government-regulated environments
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale, geographically distributed infrastructure operations
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading infrastructure operations for cloud service providers at scale
• Deep understanding of physical and logical security requirements for classified computing environments
• Track record of driving operational innovation and standardization across complex, multi-site environments
• Experience interfacing with U.S. Intelligence Community or Department of Defense stakeholders
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing large operational budgets and capital planning
• Executive presence with the ability to influence senior government and corporate leaders
• Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or related field
• Relevant technical certifications in cloud infrastructure, security, or data center operations

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, DC, Washington Dc - 218,800.00 - 295,900.00 USD annually