Principal Startup Investor Manager (VC), AWS Worldwide Startups

About the role

Would you like to shape the future of cloud computing by identifying and working with the most promising early-stage startups and venture capital firms in North America? Do you have the technical depth, business acumen, and investment insight to help establish AWS as the foundation for the next generation of technology companies?

Trusted by more startups around the world, AWS makes the power of cloud computing accessible to all. We give founders everywhere access to the same technology that powers the world's largest companies. With nearly 20 years of experience, gained from supporting hundreds of thousands of startups, the AWS Startups team helps founders prove that their world-changing ideas are possible, at any stage of growth, and any level of funding. This is why more startups, and over 80% of unicorns, choose to launch on AWS.

As a Principal Investment Manager within AWS, you will work with venture capital firms (or angel investors) to accelerate portfolio company success. You'll work closely with key investors to unlock the full potential of their portfolio companies on AWS, enabling faster innovation and scaling. Your role focuses on creating meaningful initiatives between the investors, helping startups leverage cloud to achieve breakthrough growth.

You'll combine deep technical understanding of cloud and emerging technologies, such as generative AI with business acumen to identify opportunities and ensure startups have access to the tools, expertise, and support needed to build world-changing products on AWS infrastructure.

Key job responsibilities

• Own the strategy for AWS's strategic investor relationships across the region, defining the engagement model the broader team adopts and leading the highest-priority fund relationships directly
• Define the repeatable engagement frameworks and segmentation model used across the investor portfolio, so tailored fund strategies scale beyond any single manager
• Build the mechanisms and prioritization criteria that route high-potential portfolio companies to the right AWS teams and programs at scale, and drive the cross-team commitments needed to deliver on them
• Synthesize early-stage market signals into a point of view that informs AWS product and go-to-market strategy, presenting to senior leadership to shape decisions
• Set the technical evaluation criteria and market thesis the team uses to prioritize engagement, serving as a recognized voice on where emerging technology and AWS opportunity intersect
• Serve as a senior technical advisor to high-impact portfolio companies and as an external voice on cloud and generative AI (Amazon Bedrock, SageMaker, Trainium/Inferentia), guiding architecture and go-to-market decisions across a category of startups
• Lead cross-functional initiatives across AWS Startups, Sales, Marketing, and Product, driving alignment and securing commitments across teams

A day in the life

You start your morning reviewing key business metrics and partner updates, then join a cross-functional strategy session where you help align product and business teams on a major partnership opportunity. Later, you prepare a written brief for senior leadership that frames a new market entry and outlines the trade-offs involved. You might spend the afternoon in direct discussions with an external partner's executive team, negotiating deal terms that create long-term value. Between meetings, you connect with team members you mentor, helping them navigate their own deals and grow their skills.

Basic Qualifications

• 10+ years of developing, negotiating and executing business agreements experience
• Ability to evaluate and guide early-stage and scaling companies
• Deep understanding of technical architectures, services, and best practices, and knowledge of generative AI technologies
• Demonstrated ability to influence and drive alignment across cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders without direct authority
• Demonstrated success developing and executing business initiatives that drive measurable outcomes
• Bachelor's degree in business or technical management field, or equivalent years of experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing strategies that influence leadership decisions at the organizational level
• Advanced degree (MBA or technical)
• Leadership experience at startups or at venture capital firms
• Experience building and scaling cloud-native applications from the ground up
• Experience with commercial aspects of fast-growing technical businesses
• Demonstrated ability to understand and evaluate emerging technologies
• Experience defining repeatable programs, frameworks, or mechanisms adopted across a broader team or organization

Additional information

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If the country/region you're applying in isn't listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

Pay and benefits

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.

USA, NY, New York - 193,700.00 - 262,000.00 USD annually