Job Information
Amazon Sr. SDE, Builder Foundations GRID, Builder Foundations GRID in Sunnyvale, California
Description
Builder Foundations is a foundational platform that is core to Amazon's eCommerce business. Amazon customers using Kindle, Prime, Instant Video, Fulfillment, Alexa, or just shopping online, depend on a highly available server backend provided by the Builder Foundations platform. Engineers on the Builder Foundations team design, build, and maintain highly scalable distributed systems that execute business logic, authored by teams across Amazon, millions of times per second in real-time.
As a Senior Software Development Engineer in the Builder Foundations team you will solve complex, mission critical compute problems throughout the software development lifecycle, including design, development, testing and operations. You must possess strong verbal and written communication skills, be self-driven and deliver high quality results in a fast paced environment. You need to enjoy working closely in a peer group of highly talented engineers.
We are looking for smart, results oriented senior software engineers with strong industry experience who can provide technical leadership to the other engineers in the team, and are able to solve hard technical problems.
Key job responsibilities
A Senior Software Development Engineer is responsible for leading complex, strategic software projects with a significant impact on team and potentially organizational level. SDE 3s operate with a high degree of autonomy, handling end-to-end software design, development, and maintenance while making critical architectural and technical decisions. They drive technical excellence within their team, influence the direction of the software’s architecture, and play a key role in shaping the team’s operational and engineering standards. They mentor peers, promote best practices, and often engage with other teams to ensure cohesive, scalable solutions.
Must-Haves :
Proven technical expertise in software development, including experience with multiple programming languages and system architectures.
Leadership in complex problem-solving with the ability to design for scalability, maintainability, and performance.
Strong communication skills to collaborate across teams and influence design and architectural decisions.
Experience mentoring engineers and advocating for engineering best practices.
Ability to work independently while aligning with broader team goals.
Nice-to-Haves:
Experience leading process improvements or team-building initiatives (e.g., culture development, staffing, and training).
Strong influence in cross-team decisions and architectural guidance, shaping the tech landscape beyond immediate responsibilities.
Ability to simplify complex problems, working with minimal guidance to deliver solutions.
Strong documentation skills, particularly for guiding future technology choices.
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
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
Amazon is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.amazon.jobs/en/disability/us.
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 compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $151,300/year in our lowest geographic market up to $261,500/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits. This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.