Software Development Manager, DynamoDB Storage Engine

About the role

The DynamoDB Storage Engine team is responsible for the on-disk data path for one of the world's largest databases. This role involves leading a team of systems engineers who work on performance optimization, persistence, data structures, and storage internals.

Responsibilities

• Lead, grow, and inspire a team of systems engineers working on the DynamoDB storage engine — spanning performance optimization, persistence, data structures, and storage internals.
• Set the technical direction for the storage engine in partnership with principal engineers: define the roadmap, make architectural tradeoffs, and prioritize across performance, durability, cost, and operational simplicity.
• Hire exceptional systems engineers with deep expertise in C, Rust, and storage-engine internals — and build a team culture that attracts and retains them.
• Dive deep technically: participate in design reviews, understand the codebase at a systems level, and make informed decisions about architecture, tradeoffs, and risk.
• Own operational excellence for the storage engine — drive the bar on availability, durability, and incident response for the most critical data path in DynamoDB.
• Mentor and develop engineers at all levels, creating clear growth paths for both individual contributors and emerging technical leaders.
• Work cross-functionally with dependent teams across DynamoDB (request routers, replication, control plane) and with hardware/infrastructure teams to co-optimize the full stack.

Requirements

• Proven experience managing teams of systems engineers working in performance-sensitive, low-level codebases (C, C++, or Rust).
• Strong technical depth in at least one of: storage systems, database internals, operating systems, or high-performance distributed systems — sufficient to earn the trust of senior ICs and engage meaningfully in architecture discussions.
• Track record of building and scaling high-performing engineering teams: hiring, developing, retaining, and promoting strong talent.
• Experience operating mission-critical systems where data durability and availability are non-negotiable.
• Ability to balance long-term technical investments against near-term business needs, and to communicate that strategy clearly upward and outward.
• Demonstrated judgment in ambiguous, high-stakes technical and organizational situations.

Qualifications

• 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
• 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
• 5+ years of Software Engineer, Software Developer, or related occupational 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