Amazon

Senior Software Development Engineer , Stores Foundational AI - Rufus

Amazon$193K — $261K *
Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of professional software development experience
  • 5+ years of programming experience with at least one language
  • 5+ years of experience leading design or architecture of systems
  • Experience mentoring or leading an engineering team
  • Proficiency with vLLM, SGLang, TensorRT or similar platforms
  • Experience with CUDA or low-level kernels

Responsibilities

  • Lead the architecting and developing of high-performance kernel implementations for LLMs
  • Guide the team in creating and optimizing custom operators and low-level optimizations
  • Establish best practices for kernel development and memory management
  • Develop kernel fusion techniques and optimize matrix multiplication at scale
  • Drive performance benchmarking and technical roadmap focused on kernel improvements

Benefits

  • Health insurance including medical, dental, and vision
  • 401(k) matching contributions
  • Paid time off and parental leave
  • Comprehensive mental health support services
  • Adoption and surrogacy reimbursement coverage
Full Job Description
We are building foundational LLMs for Amazon Stores that fuse world knowledge with deep e-commerce understanding to power next-generation shopping experiences. These systems continuously learn from real-world customer interactions to become more helpful, personalized, and context-aware over time.

We are looking for builders who are passionate about large-scale systems, AI innovation, and customer impact. You will work at the intersection of distributed systems, machine learning infrastructure, and science to bring frontier research-especially in post-training and reinforcement learning-into production at Amazon scale.

Key job responsibilities

* Architect and build scalable ML infrastructure powering LLM training and post-training workflows, including supervised fine-tuning, reinforcement learning, and continuous learning from live traffic

* Transform real-world customer interactions into high-quality training signals, enabling continuous model improvement and better customer experiences

* Build and optimize post-training and RL systems, including reward modeling, policy optimization, data collection loops.

* Drive experimentation and iteration velocity by building tooling and frameworks that enable rapid hypothesis testing, signal validation, and model quality improvements

* Partner closely with applied scientists to translate frontier techniques (e.g., RLHF, agentic workflows, multi-turn optimization) into reliable, production-grade systems

* Own systems end-to-end, including design, implementation, deployment, observability, and operational excellence

* Raise the engineering bar through technical leadership, design reviews, and mentorship, influencing best practices across the organization

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

- 5+ years of non-internship professional software development experience

- 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience

- 5+ years of leading design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience

- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team

- Experience with vLLM, SGLang, TensorRT or similar platforms in production environments

- Experience with CUDA kernels or ML/low-level kernels

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience

- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent

- Experience with Machine Learning and Large Language Model fundamentals, including architecture, training/inference lifecycles, and optimization of model execution

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, CA, Palo Alto - 193,300.00 - 261,500.00 USD annually

USA, WA, Seattle - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually

About Amazon

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Amazon Careers

Joining Amazon presents an unparalleled opportunity to become part of a vibrant team pushing the boundaries of innovation and growth in the global marketplace. As a leader in e-commerce, technology, and logistics, Amazon offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and professional interests. Work You’ll Do At Amazon, every day is an opportunity to collaborate with the brightest minds in technology and business to redefine what’s possible. Whether you’re interested in software development, marketing, human resources, or customer service, Amazon has a position waiting for you. Transform the way the world shops and innovates with our diverse and inclusive team. Amazon is not just a company; it’s a community where you can drive real change and contribute to projects impacting millions globally. Lead with Innovation and Leadership Amazon is the perfect place to enhance your leadership and innovation skills. Our culture encourages pushing the envelope and imagining the unimaginable. Here, you will lead projects that challenge the status quo and define new industry standards. Work with a team that values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment. Our leadership is focused on harnessing the collective power of unique perspectives to foster growth and innovation. Explore Amazon’s Employment Benefits Amazon’s commitment to its employees extends beyond just career growth. We offer competitive benefits, including health care, parental leave, and diversity training, ensuring that our team not only excels professionally but also enjoys well-being and security. Internship and Networking Opportunities Start your career with an Amazon internship and gain hands-on experience that matters. Our internships provide a gateway to full-time employment and an opportunity to network with professionals across various sectors of the company. Future-Proof Your Career With Amazon, your career path is filled with numerous opportunities for advancement. Our learning and development programs are designed to nurture your professional growth and keep you at the forefront of industry trends. Stay Connected Join Our Team Discover the job opportunities at Amazon that match your skills and interests. We are constantly on the lookout for passionate, curious, and innovative team players ready to make a difference. Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Explore the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at Amazon. Amazon is more than just a company—it’s a platform for building a promising future. Whether you’re starting or looking to advance your career, Amazon offers the resources, support, and network you need to succeed. Join us, and be a part of our continuing mission to be Earth's most customer-centric company.
Learn more about Amazon
Size
1,608 employees
Market Cap
$832.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$21.3 billion
Founded
1994
5 Year Trend
+28.1%
Revenue
$386 billion
NASDAQ

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