Principal Recruiter, PE Recruiting

Amazon Inc.

Seattle (WA)

On-site

USD 170,000 - 230,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Amazon.com Services LLC is seeking a client lead recruiter to partner with Directors and VPs, shaping the future of Amazon’s senior engineering community. You’ll define strategies for confidential, high‑impact roles and build networks across technology sectors.

You’ll advise executives, assess candidates for technical depth and leadership potential, and lead searches with data‑driven insights. The role emphasizes independence, strategic thinking, and delivery of world‑class engineering talent.

Qualifications

10+ years of executive recruiting experience.
5+ years of executive‑level technical recruiting.
5+ years advising and influencing executive leadership.
5+ years advising and influencing leadership.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Experience hiring, mentoring and developing employees

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary talent advisor to Directors and VPs, educating leaders on the external senior engineering talent landscape and market dynamics.
Define and deliver recruiting strategies for critical, confidential roles with broad cross‑organizational impact.
Identify and engage highly passive senior engineering candidates through creative sourcing strategies.
Build and cultivate robust talent networks across technology sectors, leveraging industry knowledge and relationships.
Lead client update meetings on active searches with data‑driven insights on progress and market conditions.
Provide candid guidance to executive leadership on top technical talent matters.
Conduct thorough candidate assessments, participate in debriefs, and present/negotiate offers.
Coach leaders to improve senior level talent acquisition capabilities.
Set high standards for search quality, candidate experience and recruiting excellence.
Investigate deeply into technical domains and market trends to inform strategy.

Skills

Executive recruiting

Leadership influence

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Sourcing strategies

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Job ID: 10569710 | Amazon.com Services LLC

As a client lead recruiter, you’ll have the unique opportunity to impact leadership teams across Amazon’s diverse technology landscape, building relationships with Directors and VPs while shaping the future of Amazon’s senior engineering community.

Key job responsibilities

Serve as the primary talent advisor to Directors and VPs, educating leaders on the external senior engineering talent landscape and market dynamics
Define and deliver recruiting strategies for highly‑critical, sometimes confidential roles with broad cross‑organizational impact
Identify and engage highly passive senior engineering candidates through creative, research‑driven sourcing strategies
Build and cultivate robust talent networks across technology sectors, leveraging deep industry knowledge and relationships
Lead client update meetings on active searches, providing clear, data‑driven insights on progress and market conditions
Provide candid guidance to executive leadership on matters related to top technical talent
Make sound judgments about candidate fit based on comprehensive analysis of technical depth and leadership impact
Conduct thorough candidate assessments, participate in debriefs, perform comprehensive reference checks, and present/negotiate employment offers
Coach leaders to continuously improve their talent acquisition capabilities at the senior level
Set exceptionally high standards for search quality, candidate experience, and recruiting excellence
Investigate deeply into technical domains, candidate backgrounds, and market trends to inform strategy
Operate with independence and discretion on searches where strategy has not yet been defined

A day in the life

Your day begins with strategic planning sessions discussing talent gaps and market intelligence for critical Principal Engineer searches. You’ll spend time researching and engaging passive candidates through personalized outreach, leveraging your extensive network and industry knowledge. Mid‑day might involve leading a client update meeting where you present market analysis and candidate pipeline progress, followed by conducting in‑depth technical assessments with potential candidates. You’ll collaborate with your team of recruiters and researchers, sharing insights on emerging talent pools and coaching colleagues. Afternoons often include candidate debriefs with hiring teams, where you provide perspective on technical depth and leadership potential. You’ll also dedicate time to building relationships with industry leaders and technical communities, staying ahead of market trends. Throughout the day, you’ll make high‑stakes decisions with incomplete information, balancing urgency with thoroughness to secure world‑class engineering talent.

About the team

The Global Specialty Recruiting (GSR) team partners with technical and business leaders across all of Amazon’s businesses to hire the company’s most senior engineering talent. Our team specializes in recruiting Principal Engineers and Senior Principal Engineers– Amazon’s most senior technical contributors who set the standard for engineering excellence and drive innovation across the company.

Basic Qualifications

10+ years of progressive corporate or search firm recruiting at executive level experience
5+ years of progressive technical recruiting at executive level experience
5+ years of advising and influencing executive leadership experience
5+ years of advising and influencing leadership experience
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Experience hiring candidates, mentoring and developing employees in their careers

Preferred Qualifications

Track record of building and maintaining extensive talent networks in specialized technical domains
Research acumen and creativity in crafting effective search strategies within complex technical domains
Intellectual curiosity about emerging technologies, talent trends, and competitive landscape
Demonstrated ability to work in team environments as both leader and collaborative member
Data‑driven approach to talent acquisition with ability to provide market intelligence and competitive insights

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, 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.

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.