Application deadline: Sep 5, 2026
A Principal Forward Deployed Engineer (Principal FDE) embeds across multiple strategic enterprise customers to define the technical strategy and engineering standards for AI-powered production systems at scale. Principal FDEs write production-grade software, set the technical direction for complex multi-workstream engagements, and create the reusable architectures, patterns, and engineering mechanisms that scale the entire FDE practice - combining the technical depth of an AWS Principal SDE with the strategic influence required to deliver transformational customer business outcomes.
Principal FDEs independently lead software delivery across an organization. They drive clarity where neither the business problem nor technology strategy is well defined. They solve problems with non-technical solutions such as process improvement, culture changes, or staffing and training. They set the standard for engineering excellence, handle escalations, and drive closure with peers, Directors, and stakeholders. They are force multipliers whose impact extends well beyond any single engagement.
This position requires that the candidate selected be a US Citizen and currently possess and maintain an active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph.
Key job responsibilities
Define technical strategy across engagements.
- Set the technical direction for the most complex, highest-stakes customer AI programs. Be a key influencer for strategic decisions, bringing technology and industry context to business decisions. Make architecture decisions that span multiple workstreams, services, and organizational boundaries. Requires up to 25% travel.
Build production AI systems and reference architectures.
- Design and build the foundational architectures - multi-agent orchestration frameworks, enterprise-grade retrieval systems, decision intelligence platforms - that become the template for future engagements. Tackle intrinsically hard problems, acquiring expertise as needed. Solve problems that are significantly complex not only because of technical complexity. Remain hands-on, focusing time on code and code reviews that have the most impact.
Own production excellence at scale.
- Define the operational standards, evaluation frameworks, and production readiness criteria for AI systems across the FDE practice. Establish mechanisms that ensure AI systems remain healthy across all active engagements.
Accelerate customer transformation at the portfolio level.
- Identify systemic opportunities to expand AI adoption across multiple customer organizations. Create accelerators, reference architectures, and reusable platforms that reduce time-to-value. Influence AWS product roadmaps based on patterns observed across customers.
Raise the bar for the practice.
- Define engineering excellence standards for the FDE organization. Guide the career growth of the most senior technical talent. Participate in performance evaluations and advocate for the careers of others. Help the Principal Engineering community grow through internal reviews, interviews, and promotion assessments. Represent the FDE practice to AWS VP-level leadership and customer C-suite executives. Drive hiring bar and calibration for the FDE job family.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Current, active TS/SCI US Government Security Clearance
- 10+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience
- 8+ years of experience leading the design and architecture of large-scale production systems in customer-facing or enterprise environments
- Experience building production AI or ML platforms used across multiple products or customers
- Experience with enterprise-scale agentic workflows, multi-agent orchestration, or AI system governance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience communicating across technical and non-technical audiences, including executive level stakeholders or clients
- Experience in executive level engagement with SVP/VP/C-Suite
- Master's degree or above in computer science or equivalent
- Experience creating reusable architectures or platforms adopted across an organization
- Experience defining technical strategy and engineering standards as a principal engineer or tech lead influencing multi-team decisions
- Experience influencing product roadmaps through engineering insights
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, CO, Denver - 200,100.00 - 270,600.00 USD annually
USA, NY, New York - 220,100.00 - 297,700.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Arlington - 200,100.00 - 270,600.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 200,100.00 - 270,600.00 USD annually
