Software Development Engineer, Data Center Builder Tools

The Data Center Builder Tools team is looking for an innovative, self-directed Software Development Engineer to build the next generation of real-time middleware and runtime software that powers industrial control systems across AWS Data Centers worldwide. Contribute to Amazon's vision of developing the safest, most secure, reliable, and efficient data centers on Earth. As a Software Development Engineer II (SDE II) on this team, you will design and build the software that sits between industrial hardware and the cloud — a unified, real-time data plane that lets control applications, device drivers, and cloud services exchange data reliably on industrial computing hardware. This is deep systems work: you will shape the runtime, the communication layer, and the protocol integrations that everything else in the platform is built on. In this role you will: Design and build real-time middleware and runtime components — the data-exchange layer, type system, and communication patterns (publish/subscribe and request/reply) that connect distributed control applications across languages and hardware. Integrate with industrial automation platforms and hardware protocols (e.g. IEC 61131-3, EtherCAT, PROFINET, Modbus, OPC-UA, IO-Link) and the device drivers that bridge them onto the platform. Build the bridge to the cloud — reliable metric publication, command handling, and telemetry from the edge into AWS, with the right delivery guarantees for each data class. Work at the boundary of distributed and real-time systems, where correctness means both the right result and the right timing — bounded latency, predictable behavior, and graceful degradation when connectivity is lost. Partner with a cross-functional team of hardware engineers, controls engineers, data center operations, and security specialists to take features from design through to hardware validation. If you're excited by low-level systems, real-time data movement, and connecting physical equipment to the cloud at scale, this is the role for you. Key job responsibilities As an SDE II on this team, you will own the design and delivery of the runtime and middleware components at the core of the platform. This is a hands-on building role with significant technical ownership and accountability over how the system moves and models data. Your primary responsibilities will include: Architecting and implementing runtime and real-time middleware — high-performance, low-latency components that run both on embedded/edge controllers and in the cloud, with a focus on determinism, reliability, and resource efficiency on constrained hardware. Building industrial protocol and hardware integrations — extending the platform with new device drivers and protocol support and solving the hard problems of cross-language, cross-platform data exchange (type systems, serialization, memory layout, and schema/versioning). Owning the edge-to-cloud communication path — designing how telemetry, metrics, and commands flow between devices and AWS services with appropriate quality-of-service, backpressure, and store-and-forward behavior. Engineering for real-time correctness — reasoning about latency budgets, throughput, and failure modes in a distributed system where the software is adjacent to physical control loops. Raising the engineering bar — driving strong testing (unit, integration, and on-hardware validation), performance benchmarking, code review, and operational excellence for the components you own. Collaborating across disciplines—working with hardware, controls, security, and operations partners to turn ambiguous requirements into robust, shippable software. Mentoring and contributing to technical direction — guiding more junior engineers and helping shape the roadmap for the runtime and middleware layer. The ideal candidate has a strong systems-software background and experience across several of the following: real-time or embedded systems, industrial automation platforms and hardware protocols, distributed systems, middleware/messaging (pub/sub, RPC), and cloud communication. You are comfortable working close to the metal, memory, concurrency, and serialization timing and equally comfortable reasoning about how edge components integrate with cloud services. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to correctness in the face of hardware and timing constraints, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment are essential. Experience with Rust, C/C++, or Python, and with technologies such as Industrial automation platforms, OPC-UA, DDS/Zenoh or similar real-time middleware, is a strong advantage. A day in the life AWS Infrastructure Services (AIS) 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. About the team The Data Center Builder Tools team develops tooling for device frameworks, and device lifecycle management in AWS Data Centers. This includes both frontend and backend services use by internal development teams and on-site customers. Our tools power the industrial controls systems deployed in our data centers. Diverse Experiences AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying. Why AWS? Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses. Inclusive Team Culture Here at AWS, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness. Mentorship & Career Growth We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional. Work/Life Balance We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve in the cloud. - Experience in professional, non-internship software development - Experience programming with at least one modern language such as Java, C++, or C# including object-oriented design - Experience with full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations, or experience in development in the last 3 years - Experience designing or archit