Software Development Manager, Shield

Company: Amazon
Location: Seattle
Posted on: April 8, 2026

Job Description:

AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain and we’re looking for talented people who want to help. You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion. Join Shield, AWS's defense team within Perimeter Protection. We stand at the forefront of protecting AWS infrastructure and millions of customers from sophisticated attacks across the internet. Our mission is critical: safeguard the cloud infrastructure that powers a significant portion of the modern internet. AWS Shield is seeking an experienced Software Development Manager to lead the development of next-generation DDoS protection systems that safeguard AWS infrastructure and customer applications at global scale. What You'll Do: - As a Software Development Manager for AWS Shield, you will architect, build, and operate critical security systems that protect AWS and millions of customers from sophisticated DDoS attacks. You will lead a team of talented engineers developing real-time detection and mitigation solutions that process terabits of traffic per second. - What Makes This Role Exciting: - Internet-Scale Impact: Process and protect traffic representing a substantial portion of global internet activity. The systems you build will defend some of the world's most critical infrastructure. - Scaling Challenges: Work on problems that few engineering teams ever encounter. Handle traffic volumes and attack patterns that push the boundaries of distributed systems design. - Creative Problem Solving: Operate in an ambiguous, fast-moving space where the threat landscape evolves daily. Your creativity and adaptability will be your greatest assets as you design solutions for attacks that don't exist yet. - High-Stakes Engineering: Balance competing priorities - massive scale, rapid iteration, effective mitigation - while ensuring customer traffic flows safely and reliably. Every decision matters. Key job responsibilities • Define technical strategy and architecture – Establish the long-term vision for AWS Shield's DDoS protection systems. Drive architectural decisions for distributed systems processing terabits of traffic with sub-second response times. • Own critical security initiatives – Lead multiple high-impact projects across existing and greenfield development. Define roadmaps balancing innovation with operational stability, delivering solutions that protect millions of customers. • Build strategic partnerships – Collaborate with senior leaders across AWS security, research, and service teams. Influence technical direction beyond your organization and drive Shield capability adoption across AWS. • Establish data-driven engineering culture – Design metrics frameworks measuring security effectiveness, system performance, and team productivity. Use insights to guide multi-quarter planning and resource allocation. • Develop high-performing teams – Hire, mentor, and retain top engineering talent. Provide career development, conduct performance management, and build team capabilities enabling autonomous decision-making. • Drive operational excellence at scale – Set quality standards and engineering practices enabling reliable, secure system delivery. Balance velocity with stability while maintaining AWS's operational performance bar. • Lead technical innovation – Stay ahead of emerging attack patterns. Evaluate strategic technology choices and make build-versus-buy decisions maintaining AWS Shield's industry-leading position. About the team AWS Shield is a managed Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection service that safeguards applications running on AWS. Our team builds and operates this critical security service that protects thousands of customers from disruptive and costly DDoS attacks. We combine advanced detection algorithms with massive mitigation capacity to provide protection against the largest and most sophisticated attacks. Our mission is to ensure customers can maintain availability and performance even during targeted attacks, allowing them to focus on their business rather than defense infrastructure. We continuously innovate to stay ahead of evolving threats in the cybersecurity landscape. - 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 - 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 Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status. Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner. 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. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits . USA, WA, Seattle - 184,900.00 - 250,200.00 USD annually

Keywords: Amazon, Tacoma , Software Development Manager, Shield, IT / Software / Systems , Seattle, Washington