With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Senior Software Engineer, EC2 Nitro
$139K - $183K/yr
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Senior Software Engineer, EC2 Nitro
$139K - $183K/yr
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Senior Software Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
$139K - $183K/yr
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Senior Software Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
$139K - $183K/yr
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Sr. SDE, EC2 Nitro Networking
Seattle, WA · On-site
$139K - $183K/yr
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, you are surrounded by talent that will provide you opportunities to grow your ...
Sr. SDE, EC2 Nitro Networking
Seattle, WA · On-site
$139K - $183K/yr
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, you are surrounded by talent that will provide you opportunities to grow your ...
Sr. SDE, EC2 Nitro Networking
$139K - $183K/yr
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, you are surrounded by talent that will provide you opportunities to grow your ...
Sr. SDE, EC2 Nitro Networking
$139K - $183K/yr
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, you are surrounded by talent that will provide you opportunities to grow your ...
Meta's Cross-Meta Security organization is seeking a distinguished Security Engineer to operate at the highest level of technical leadership across the
Meta's Cross-Meta Security organization is seeking a distinguished Security Engineer to operate at the highest level of technical leadership across the
Software Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, you are surrounded by talent that will provide you opportunities to grow your ...
Software Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, you are surrounded by talent that will provide you opportunities to grow your ...
Staff Engineer - PKI
Seattle, WA · On-site
$115K - $230K/yr
Retirement
Position Description Our Staff Engineer works with our Distinguished Engineers, Sr. Staff Engineer's, and Sr. Engineers to innovate and build new systems, improve, and enhance existing systems as ...
Staff Engineer - PKI
Seattle, WA · On-site
$115K - $230K/yr
Retirement
Position Description Our Staff Engineer works with our Distinguished Engineers, Sr. Staff Engineer's, and Sr. Engineers to innovate and build new systems, improve, and enhance existing systems as ...
Staff Engineer - CMaaS (Platform and Tools - VMs)
Seattle, WA · On-site
Retirement
Position Description Our Staff Engineers work with our Distinguished Engineers, Sr. Staff Engineers, and Sr. Engineers to innovate and build new systems, improve, and enhance existing systems as well ...
Staff Engineer - CMaaS (Platform and Tools - VMs)
Seattle, WA · On-site
Retirement
Position Description Our Staff Engineers work with our Distinguished Engineers, Sr. Staff Engineers, and Sr. Engineers to innovate and build new systems, improve, and enhance existing systems as well ...
Senior Software Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
$139K - $183K/yr
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Senior Software Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
$139K - $183K/yr
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Software Dev Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Software Dev Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Meta is seeking a distinguished Software Engineer specializing in database internals to drive the technical direction of our MySQL infrastructure that p.
Meta is seeking a distinguished Software Engineer specializing in database internals to drive the technical direction of our MySQL infrastructure that p.
Cyber Security Identity Staff Engineer
Seattle, WA · On-site
$110K - $230K/yr
Position Description Our Staff Engineer works with our Distinguished Engineers to innovate and build new systems, improve, and enhance existing systems and identify new opportunities to apply your ...
Cyber Security Identity Staff Engineer
Seattle, WA · On-site
$110K - $230K/yr
Position Description Our Staff Engineer works with our Distinguished Engineers to innovate and build new systems, improve, and enhance existing systems and identify new opportunities to apply your ...
Distinguished, Data Scientist
Bellevue, WA · On-site
$156K - $312K/yr
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
We are seeking a hands-on highly skilled and experienced Distinguished Data Scientist to join our ... It includes software engineers, data scientists, and machine learning experts who drive innovative ...
Distinguished, Data Scientist
Bellevue, WA · On-site
$156K - $312K/yr
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
We are seeking a hands-on highly skilled and experienced Distinguished Data Scientist to join our ... It includes software engineers, data scientists, and machine learning experts who drive innovative ...
Software Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Software Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Software Dev Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Software Dev Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Software Dev Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Software Dev Engineer, EC2 Nitro
Seattle, WA · On-site
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Retirement
PTO
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge. Key ...
Distinguished Engineer information
See Seattle, WA salary details
$35.3K - $45.3K
3% of jobs
$45.3K - $55.2K
0% of jobs
$55.2K - $65.2K
3% of jobs
$65.2K - $75.2K
1% of jobs
$75.2K - $85.2K
0% of jobs
$92.7K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$85.2K - $95.2K
23% of jobs
$95.2K - $105.2K
14% of jobs
The median wage is $107.9K / yr.
$105.2K - $115.1K
19% of jobs
$115.1K - $125.1K
5% of jobs
$128.4K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$125.1K - $135.1K
18% of jobs
$135.1K - $145.1K
13% of jobs
$35.3K
$109K
$145.1K
How much do distinguished engineer jobs pay per year?
As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for distinguished engineer in Seattle, WA is $109,017.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,200.00 and $132,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a distinguished engineer?
To thrive as a Distinguished Engineer, you need extensive expertise in software architecture, system design, and deep technical problem-solving, often supported by an advanced degree and a robust track record in engineering leadership roles. Mastery of programming languages, architectural frameworks, cloud platforms, and experience with industry-standard tools such as CI/CD pipelines is typical, along with relevant certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Google Cloud Professional Engineer. Exceptional communication, mentorship, and strategic thinking skills set candidates apart by fostering innovation and guiding teams towards effective solutions. These skills and qualities are crucial for driving large-scale technical initiatives, shaping company-wide technology strategies, and mentoring engineering talent.
What is a distinguished engineer?
A Distinguished Engineer is a senior-level technical expert recognized for their deep expertise, leadership, and impact on engineering and innovation. They drive complex technical strategies, mentor engineers, and influence the company's technology direction. Unlike managerial roles, they focus on solving high-impact technical challenges and setting industry standards.
What are typical career advancement opportunities for a distinguished engineer?
As a Distinguished Engineer, you have the opportunity to influence major technical decisions and take on leadership roles in shaping company technology strategy. While this position is already among the highest technical tracks, you may advance further to roles like Chief Architect or Principal Technical Fellow, or choose to expand your impact by moving into organizational leadership or executive positions. Distinguished Engineers often lead cross-functional initiatives, mentor other engineers, and represent the company in industry forums or technical communities. This role offers a blend of deep technical contribution and broad organizational influence, enabling career growth along both technical and leadership paths.
What does a Distinguished Engineer do?
A Distinguished Engineer is a senior technical role responsible for leading complex projects, setting technical strategy, and driving innovation within an organization. They often mentor other engineers, contribute to technical standards, and work on high-impact initiatives using advanced skills and industry best practices.
What are popular job titles related to Distinguished Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA?
For Distinguished Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Distinguished Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA look for?
The top searched job categories for Distinguished Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:
Amazon rating
7.4
Based on 7,093 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz
6th of 39 rated national retailers
Job description
Do you want to shape the future of virtualized (SDN) networking in one of the world's biggest public clouds?
The Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) Nitro Dataplane team owns the packet pipeline that runs right beneath all our customer's EC2 VPC instances, adding features like firewalls (security groups), routing, billing and monitoring as we touch every single packet on every single host across our worldwide fleet in more than 30 regions. Our vision is to combine the performance of bare metal networking while maintaining all the benefits of the cloud, including delivering features not possible on bare metal leading to true Software Defined Networking (SDN).
We continue to grow, and are looking for kernel/embedded C programmers who can deliver ultra-high performance for our EC2 customers - our goal is to be processing many millions of packets per second on embedded CPU cores. This requires both being able to implement highly optimized data structures, but also low level tuning to our hardware
If you have good experience in C/C++ or Rust, and a passion for systems software engineering such as kernel or embedded software development, then this is a unique opportunity to join us in building the platform which is the basis for all new EC2 VPC features in the years to come.
You can have an immediate impact for all of our customers including internal customers such as AWS Lambda, and external customers that run on Amazon EC2 as we deploy new features and updates regularly and often.
With the extensive network and access to Principal, Sr. Principal and Distinguished Engineers across EC2, AWS and Amazon, there are many stretch opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge.
Key job responsibilities
Your responsibilities will include:
* Being an engineer on a small team, mentoring junior engineers, ensuring the right development practices are followed.
* Be very hands-on; work with the engineering team to manage the day-to-day development activities by leading architecture decisions, participating in designs, design review, code review, and implementation.
* Maintain current technical knowledge to support rapidly changing technology, always on a look out for new technologies and work with management and development team in bringing new technologies.
* Communicating with users, other technical teams, and senior management to collect requirements, describe software product features, technical designs, and product strategy
About Amazon
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.
Industry
It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing
Company size
10,000+ Employees
Headquarters location
Seattle, WA, US