Principal Cloud Hardware Engineer, Storage System Development

About the role

This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of physics and planetary-scale systems, leading the engineering of next-generation magnetic storage and the breakthrough technologies poised to replace it. As a Principal Engineer within AWS Hardware Engineering, you will sit at the center of one of the most consequential technology challenges of our time: designing the storage backbone that enables artificial intelligence to operate at scale, supports the world's most demanding workloads, and stores humanity's data. You won't just optimize existing systems — you'll reshape an entire industry.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end engineering efforts on next-generation magnetic storage technologies, from the physics of the storage medium to the architecture of the world's largest storage systems
• Define the technical vision and roadmap for storage hardware innovation across AWS's global infrastructure
• Drive breakthrough research and development on emerging storage technologies positioned to succeed current magnetic storage paradigms
• Partner with cross-functional teams spanning hardware, software, systems architecture, and supply chain to bring next-generation storage solutions from concept to hyperscale deployment
• Establish engineering standards, best practices, and architectural patterns that influence storage design across AWS
• Mentor and develop senior engineers, elevating technical excellence across the organization
• Engage with external research institutions, vendors, and industry partners to stay at the forefront of storage innovation
• Represent AWS in industry forums and contribute to the broader storage engineering community

Qualifications

• Previous experience in hardware engineering, with deep expertise in storage technologies (magnetic, solid-state, or emerging media)
• Demonstrated mastery of storage physics, media engineering, and system-level architecture
• Proven track record of leading large-scale, complex hardware programs from research through production
• Experience designing and delivering hardware systems at hyperscale or in high-reliability environments
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence technical direction at the executive level

Benefits

Amazon offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.