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Senior Amazon Software Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Amazon

Sr. Software Development Engineer, S3, S3

Herndon, VA · On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) is storage for the Internet. Through the use of pioneering ... We are looking for a talented Senior Software Development Engineer to join our S3 Fleet Management ...

Amazon

Sr. Software Development Engineer, S3, S3

Herndon, VA · On-site

$126K - $166K/yr

Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) is storage for the Internet. Through the use of pioneering ... We are looking for a talented Senior Software Development Engineer to join our S3 Fleet Management ...

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All JobsAmazon Software Engineer JobsSenior Amazon Software Engineer JobsSenior Amazon Software Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Senior Amazon Software Engineer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$85.5K

$162.3K

$217.5K

How much do senior amazon software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior amazon software engineer in Washington, DC is $162,292.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $138,700.00 and $182,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Senior Amazon Software Engineer do?

A Senior Amazon Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains large-scale software systems that support Amazon's vast online ecosystem. They lead technical projects, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions. Their role involves problem-solving, writing efficient code, and ensuring the scalability and reliability of Amazon’s services. Senior engineers are also responsible for setting technical direction and influencing best practices across their teams.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Amazon Software Engineer?

To thrive as a Senior Amazon Software Engineer, you need advanced programming expertise (e.g., Java, C++, Python), strong problem-solving skills, and a bachelor's or higher degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with Amazon Web Services (AWS), distributed systems, and version control tools like Git is typically required, along with knowledge of scalable software architectures. Effective communication, leadership, and a collaborative mindset help drive cross-team projects and mentor junior engineers. These skills are vital for delivering robust, high-impact solutions and fostering innovation within Amazon's fast-paced, customer-focused environment.

What are some common challenges Senior Amazon Software Engineers face when leading cross-functional projects?

Senior Amazon Software Engineers often lead projects that require collaboration across multiple teams, such as product management, UX, and infrastructure. One common challenge is aligning priorities and timelines between teams with differing goals, which requires strong communication and negotiation skills. Additionally, handling the scale and complexity of Amazon's systems means navigating legacy codebases, ensuring high reliability, and maintaining performance under significant user load. Successfully managing stakeholder expectations and fostering a culture of ownership are also key aspects of the role.

What is the difference between Senior Amazon Software Engineer vs Amazon Software Engineer?

AspectSenior Amazon Software EngineerAmazon Software Engineer
Required ExperienceTypically 5+ years of experience, leadership skillsEntry to mid-level, 1-3 years of experience
ResponsibilitiesDesigning complex systems, mentoring juniors, leading projectsDeveloping features, fixing bugs, learning systems
Work EnvironmentCollaborative teams, cross-functional projects, high-impact rolesTeam-based, focused on individual contributions
CertificationsNot mandatory but beneficial (e.g., AWS certifications)Not typically required

The main difference between a Senior Amazon Software Engineer and an Amazon Software Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and leadership. Senior engineers handle complex projects, mentor others, and have a broader impact, while Amazon Software Engineers focus on developing features and gaining experience. Both roles work within Amazon's fast-paced environment, but seniority brings additional expectations and leadership opportunities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Amazon Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC? The most popular types of Amazon Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Amazon Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC? For Senior Amazon Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Amazon Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Amazon Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:
Senior Amazon Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Amazon Software Engineer job openings in Washington, DC as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $162,292 per year, or $78 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer, Programming Foundations, ASBX

Amazon

Arlington, VA

$140K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday

Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 7,051 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers

Job description

Are you a seasoned software engineer who thinks deeply about what it means to ship high quality code with confidence: not just your own code, but code written by AI, across the whole company. Amazon Software Builder Experience (ASBX) is hiring for a unique role: you'll be joining the team that owns Amazon's core testing platforms, and have a voice in setting the direction for AI-native software development at scale. You'll make a direct impact: helping create the future of human-guided, self-validating agentic coding for tens of thousands of world-class software engineers at Amazon.

You will partner with your manager and leadership, and be a senior hands-on engineer in a dedicated team.
Key job responsibilities
You will play a key role on a team as it designs, builds, ships, and operates testing platforms and AI-driven testing capabilities, by:
- Being a clear technical leader, working in partnership with your colleagues to deliver architectures that scale with the needs of the business;
- Quickly and reliably delivering high-quality technical solutions that delight our customers;
- Building and operating distributed systems at global scale - serverless test orchestration, on-demand execution across every AWS region, and load testing platforms processing millions of transactions per day;
- Demonstrating excellent taste in developer experience and tooling design through the SDLC;
- Partnering with your manager and leadership to influence business strategy and product roadmaps;
- Meeting with customers to learn and help them shape their own testing story;
- Setting a high bar of technical and operational excellence, and empowering your colleagues to continuously meet and raise the bar.
As a senior engineer, you are a force multiplier to your teammates as much as you are a developer.

This role will be a great fit if you have both passion and experience balancing coding, technical leadership, and communicating. You relish setting a positive example for less-senior engineers on craftsmanship, commitment to achieving customer outcomes and operational excellence, communicating clearly and with respect; and being deeply curious and confidently humble.
A day in the life
Your customers are the tens of thousands of software engineers across Amazon, who are building AWS, Amazon.com, Alexa, and more

You'll be a lead hands-on engineer, building and operating systems at extraordinary scale: test platforms that are in the critical path of every deployment at Amazon, and AI capabilities already in daily use by tens of thousands of builders. You will partner with ASBX leadership and your customers, and guide and empower your colleagues to sustainably deliver high-quality customer outcomes.
About the team
In Programming Foundations, the Testing org builds and operates Amazon's foundational testing infrastructure for the AI Development Lifecycle.

Our platforms execute millions of tests per day across every AWS region: on-demand test execution, serverless orchestration, and global-scale load testing. Our AI systems make those platforms smarter: generating tests, diagnosing failures, and measuring whether a change carries enough evidence to ship. Our north star is a future where every team at Amazon has an AI-powered testing partner that helps builders ship high-quality software fast.

We're early enough that you'll shape what this becomes, and operating at enough scale that your work has impact from day one.

What Amazon employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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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

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