Software Development Engineer III, AWS Transactional Services (Database & Distributed Systems)

Ever wondered what happens when S3 processes a PUT request, when EC2 launches a new instance, when DynamoDB commits a write in single-digit milliseconds, or when Kinesis Data Streams ingests a new record? Behind the scenes, a distributed log service makes it possible, and this role will help define what comes next.

The Transactional Services organization builds foundational distributed systems that power some of AWS's largest services. We specialize in high-performance, strongly consistent data systems operating at massive scale. Today, our systems process more than 4 million writes per second, and that scale continues to grow. The systems we build sit on critical paths for AWS, so the work has broad technical and customer impact.

Our team is executing on a multi-year roadmap of complex, high-impact engineering work. We are investing in an already high-performing storage layer to drive even lower latency, higher availability, and new capabilities for customers at scale. This is an opportunity to work on foundational systems with meaningful headroom for innovation in performance, efficiency, and reliability.

As a Senior Software Development Engineer, you will be a technical leader within the team, helping drive the design and delivery of our most important engineering work. You will partner closely with your manager and Principal Engineers to translate roadmap goals into executable technical plans, raise engineering quality, and mentor other engineers on the team. This role is well suited for someone who combines strong distributed systems design skills with sound engineering judgment, consistent execution, and a willingness to help the broader team succeed.

If you want to lead the evolution of distributed systems at AWS scale, this is the role.

Key job responsibilities

• Lead the design and architecture of highly available, low-latency distributed log and database systems that support critical AWS services.
• Own complex and ambiguous technical problems end to end, from framing the problem and defining the approach to driving delivery into production.
• Set technical direction across foundational services, making architecture decisions that balance performance, durability, availability, and operational simplicity.
• Work with partner teams on shared designs and dependencies to ensure successful delivery of team-owned initiatives.
• Mentor and develop engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and hands-on technical guidance, helping raise the bar across the team.
• Advance engineering excellence by improving operational rigor, strengthening development practices, and shaping the team's technical culture.

About the team

WS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply.

Why AWS?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and continue to innovate, which is why customers ranging from startups to Global 500 companies trust our products and services to power their businesses.

Inclusive Team Culture

At AWS, learning and curiosity are part of how we work. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion and help us celebrate different perspectives and experiences. Ongoing events and learning opportunities, including Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon, support an environment where employees can grow and feel a sense of belonging.

Mentorship & Career Growth

We're continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth's Best Employer. You'll find knowledge-sharing, mentorship, and career development resources designed to help you grow into a more well-rounded professional.

Work/Life Balance

We value work-life harmony. Success at work should not come at the expense of life outside of work, and we strive to offer the flexibility needed to support both. When people feel supported at work and at home, they are better able to build and innovate for customers.

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
• 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience
• 5+ years of leading design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
• Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
• Experience contributing to the architecture and design (architecture, design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and current systems
• Experience debugging, profiling, and implementing best software engineering practices in large-scale systems

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
• Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
• Experience programming with at least one modern language such as Java, C++, or C# including object-oriented design

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, WA, Seattle - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually