Software Development Engineer, Amazon Optics

Amazon; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon is seeking engineers to design and implement secure services that protect AWS physical locations worldwide. You will own operational excellence, review code, and collaborate with stakeholders to deliver scalable, reliable solutions.

The role emphasizes automating processes and contributing to secure, maintainable architectures. You will work in a team dedicated to building critical security services for Corporate and AWS data centers, with opportunities to grow through design discussions

Qualifications

• Experience designing or architecting scalable, reliable systems.
• Experience with full software development lifecycle and code reviews.
• Proficiency in at least one programming language and modern software practices.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement secure services protecting AWS physical locations across regions.
• Own operational excellence, drive permanent fixes and improve team operations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to balance customer requirements with team objectives.
• Participate in code reviews and contribute to documentation for system construction and testing.
• Automate inefficiencies and scale solutions across AWS regions.

Skills

Professional software development

System design

Multi-language programming

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent

Job description

Description

Join the Amazon Optics team and be at the forefront of building innovative services that secure the foundation of our business from security threats. Our team develops and manages critical services used by all Corporate and AWS data center employees to protect physical sites and preserve the trust that AWS users have placed in us. You'll work with passionate software engineers to build systems that are essential for keeping Corporate and AWS sites secure worldwide.

Key job responsibilities

• Design and implement secure services that protect AWS physical locations, making meaningful contributions to the full software development lifecycle from scoping and design through testing, deployment, and maintenance.
• Take ownership of operational excellence, identifying root causes of issues and implementing permanent fixes while continually improving team operations.
• Work with stakeholders to understand business and customer value, ensuring you deliver solutions that balance customer requirements with team objectives.
• Actively participate in code reviews, providing meaningful feedback to teammates while contributing to documentation that explains how systems are constructed, tested, and operated.
• Automate operational inefficiencies for both the team and customers, building solutions that scale across all AWS regions while maintaining high quality standards.

A day in the life

Your day begins with a quick team standup to align priorities before diving into coding complex security features for the Optics platform. You'll collaborate with teammates to solve challenging architecture problems, review pull requests, and participate in design discussions for upcoming features. Throughout the day, you'll work in an IaC deployment environment where you'll design, develop, test, and deploy solutions. You'll have opportunities to automate operational inefficiencies and stretch yourself technically while helping secure AWS sites globally.

About The Team

The Amazon Optics team values strong intuition backed by metrics and data. We provide solutions where "can't be done" isn't considered an answer, taking on seemingly impossible challenges and finding creative solutions. Our services are used around the world to secure assets for every single AWS customer, making our work essential to maintaining trust in the AWS platform. We foster a collaborative environment where you'll share knowledge, help others achieve, and be empowered to grow while taking ownership of critical security services that protect AWS infrastructure.

Diverse Experiences

Amazon Security values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the 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.

Why Amazon Security?

At Amazon, security is central to maintaining customer trust and delivering delightful customer experiences. Our organization is responsible for creating and maintaining a high bar for security across all of Amazon’s products and services. We offer talented security professionals the chance to accelerate their careers with opportunities to build experience in a wide variety of areas including cloud, devices, retail, entertainment, healthcare, operations, and physical stores.

Inclusive Team Culture

In Amazon Security, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Ongoing DEI events and learning experiences inspire us to continue learning and to embrace our uniqueness. Addressing the toughest security challenges requires that we seek out and celebrate a diversity of ideas, perspectives, and voices.

Training & Career Growth

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, training, and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.

Work/Life Balance

We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why flexible work hours and arrangements are part of our culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

Basic Qualifications

• Experience (non-internship) in professional software development
• Experience designing or architecting (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems
• Experience programming with at least one software programming language

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
• Experience with full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and 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, NY, New York - 158,100.00 - 213,800.00 USD annually

USA, VA, Arlington - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually

USA, VA, Herndon - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually

Company

Amazon.com Services LLC