Security Hardware Engineer, Infrastructure Security

Amazon Web Services (AWS); Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Amazon Data Services, Inc. in Herndon, VA is seeking a skilled mechanical engineer to lead hardware design and testing for security products across AWS data centers.

You will define requirements, collaborate with firmware, software, and operations teams, and help deliver secure, scalable hardware solutions globally. The role emphasizes rigorous validation, cross-functional collaboration, documentation, and ongoing cost optimization, with travel up to 25% to support deployments and field issues.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in mechanical engineering or equivalent experience.
• Experience with prototyping and implementation.
• Experience with general troubleshooting/debugging of hardware.
• Experience in developing functional specifications and test procedures.

Responsibilities

• Define hardware requirements, component specifications, and system architectures for security products
• Evaluate and qualify hardware from vendors and partners, conducting rigorous testing to validate performance, reliability, and compliance with AWS standards
• Develop test plans, validation procedures, and acceptance criteria for hardware products throughout the development lifecycle
• Drive hardware integration projects across internal teams and external partners, resolving complex technical challenges
• Collaborate cross-functionally with firmware, software, mechanical, and operations engineers to deliver integrated security solutions
• Contribute to the standardization of security hardware designs and specifications across the global data center portfolio
• Create technical documentation, hardware specifications, test reports, and engineering change orders
• Identify opportunities for hardware innovation, cost optimization, and reliability improvements across the security product portfolio
• Ensure compliance with internal security standards, industry certifications, and regulatory requirements
• Support Infrastructure Security initiatives through domestic and international travel approximately 25% of the time

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Prototyping

Hardware troubleshooting

Functional specifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Master's degree in electrical engineering

Job description

Description

AWS Infrastructure Security is responsible for protecting the physical and logical security of AWS global infrastructure. We design, deploy, and operate the security systems and programs that safeguard all AWS data centers, ensuring our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, building and scaling security systems that protect the world's largest cloud infrastructure, and we're looking for talented people who want to help. You'll join a diverse team of security engineers, hardware and software engineers, program 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.

AWS Infrastructure Security is responsible for protecting the physical and logical security of AWS global infrastructure. We design, deploy, and operate the security systems and programs that safeguard all AWS data centers, ensuring our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, building and scaling security systems that protect the world's largest cloud infrastructure, and we're looking for talented people who want to help. You'll join a diverse team of security engineers, hardware and software engineers, program 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.

About the Team

Within AWS Infrastructure Services, the AWS Infrastructure Security – Security Products & Solutions (SPS) team is a global engineering organization responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of physical security products and solutions deployed across all AWS data centers worldwide. Our portfolio spans the full range of physical security technologies deployed across AWS data centers, including video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, media destruction, and more. We own everything from initial design and engineering through deployment, operational enablement, and eventual decommissioning. Our team develops the standards, SOPs, automation, runbooks, and training that enable operations teams in the field to maintain and scale these systems reliably. We work cross-functionally across AWS organizations to deliver secure, cost-effective, and resilient solutions that meet the evolving needs of the world's largest cloud infrastructure.

Key job responsibilities

• Define hardware requirements, component specifications, and system architectures for security products
• Evaluate and qualify hardware from vendors and partners, conducting rigorous testing to validate performance, reliability, and compliance with AWS standards
• Develop test plans, validation procedures, and acceptance criteria for hardware products throughout the development lifecycle
• Drive hardware integration projects across internal teams and external partners, resolving complex technical challenges
• Collaborate cross-functionally with firmware, software, mechanical, and operations engineers to deliver integrated security solutions
• Contribute to the standardization of security hardware designs and specifications across the global data center portfolio
• Create technical documentation, hardware specifications, test reports, and engineering change orders
• Identify opportunities for hardware innovation, cost optimization, and reliability improvements across the security product portfolio
• Ensure compliance with internal security standards, industry certifications, and regulatory requirements
• Support Infrastructure Security initiatives through domestic and international travel approximately 25% of the time

A day in the life

You collaborate with your team and cross-functional partners to deliver security hardware products across the full lifecycle. On any given day, you might be evaluating new hardware components from vendors for next-generation security systems, running qualification tests on prototype hardware, or working through a complex integration challenge with firmware and software engineers. You analyze hardware performance data, identify root causes of field issues, and develop engineering solutions that scale across thousands of deployed devices. You identify and communicate technical risks early, propose design trade-offs, and work with internal partners to align on the best path forward. You seek to understand the broader business context behind the hardware you develop, ensuring your designs meet both immediate needs and long-term reliability goals. You actively seek feedback, iterate to raise the bar, and take ownership of your contributions to the team's collective knowledge and customer outcomes.

About The Team

The team is a small but highly capable workforce which supports the end-to-end lifecycle of security hardware products. This role is expected to own developed solutions from problem statement, through requirements definition and hardware development, alpha and beta testing, to enterprise-wide deployment. This role will also create support documentation and hardware maintenance guides to be used by deployment teams for troubleshooting and repair.

Basic Qualifications

• 4+ years of working in mechanical engineering or equivalent experience
• Experience with prototyping and implementation
• Experience with general troubleshooting/debugging of hardware
• Experience in developing functional specifications, design verification plans and functional test procedures

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the design of complex mechanical products and equipment at volume
• Master's degree in electrical engineering or equivalent
• Experience with physical security control and surveillance 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.

• 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
• parental leave

USA, VA, Herndon - 117,300.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually

Company - Amazon Data Services, Inc.

Job ID: A10493056