Software Development Manager - Core distro, Amazon Linux

About the role

Amazon is looking to hire an experienced engineering leader to lead our core packaging teams within the Amazon Linux organization. Amazon Linux is a Linux distribution optimized for AWS, powering millions of EC2 instances worldwide. This role focuses on leading teams responsible for building, maintaining, and delivering RPM packages for foundational components.

The successful candidate will own own the end-to-end delivery of high-quality, secure, and performant packages that enable developers to build and run applications efficiently on AWS. As an SDM, you will combine strong technical expertise in Linux systems and packaging with exceptional people management skills to drive innovation, scalability, and operational excellence in a fast-paced environment.

After joining, you will quickly become a key partner to the leadership team, where you will understand its core business goals and priorities. In the first three months, you will review existing processes and understand them. You will be guiding your team of initially 8-12 engineers to collaborate with internal teams and the Open Source community.

In the upcoming months, you will drive continual improvements to the efficiency and flexibility of the platform while keeping a high bar for security and availability. You will own key parts of the software stack that is running on most Amazon servers worldwide.

Key job responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of software development engineers focused on RPM package maintenance, building, testing, and release for core components such as compilers, linkers, debuggers, and related toolchains.
• Own the technical roadmap, architecture, and delivery of packaging pipelines, ensuring packages are secure, reproducible, and optimized for performance on AWS architectures.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including kernel engineers, security teams, and AWS service owners, to prioritize features, resolve dependencies, and address customer pain points.
• Hire, mentor, coach, and develop top engineering talent; foster an inclusive team culture focused on innovation and high standards.
• Partner with product management and stakeholders to define priorities, working backwards from customer needs (e.g., developer productivity, compatibility, security).
• Influence long-term strategy for Amazon Linux packaging, including tools, processes, and contributions to open-source projects.
• Ensure operational excellence: monitoring, incident response, and continuous improvement of build and release systems.
• Communicate effectively with senior leadership on progress, risks, and technical designs.

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of engineering team management experience
• 7+ years of engineering experience
• 8+ years of leading the definition and development of multi tier web services experience
• 3+ years of Software Engineer, Software Developer, or related occupational experience
• 1+ years of providing technical leadership and project management for all aspects of the software development lifecycle experience
• 1+ years of developing large-scale, multi-tiered distributed software systems using Java, C#, or C++ experience
• 1+ years of developing large-scale, multi-tiered distributed software systems using service-oriented architecture experience
• 1+ years of developing large-scale, multi-tiered distributed software systems using distributed programming experience
• Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field
• Knowledge of engineering practices and patterns for the full software/hardware/networks development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, certification, and livesite operations
• Experience partnering with product or program management teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in communicating with users, other technical teams, and senior leadership to collect requirements, describe software product features, technical designs, and product strategy
• Experience in recruiting, hiring, mentoring/coaching and managing teams of Software Engineers to improve their skills, and make them more effective, product software engineers

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, WA, Seattle - 184,900.00 - 250,200.00 USD annually