Amazon's Security team is looking for a Systems Security Development Engineer to design, build, and integrate security automation and tooling for a U.S. Government program delivering a classified AI Factory on a fully air-gapped platform. This is not a traditional cloud environment; there is no AWS control plane, no internet connectivity, and no existing security automation to inherit. You will engineer the systems that integrate security controls into the platform build, including hardening automation, configuration management, log pipeline engineering, and security tool integration across a multi-vendor COTS stack (Kubernetes, ONTAP, NVIDIA, Cisco, Thales). You will work hands-on with infrastructure engineers to ensure security is built into the platform from day one, not bolted on after delivery.

This position requires that the candidate selected be a US Citizen and must currently possess and maintain an active TS/SCI security clearance with polygraph.

Key job responsibilities

• Engineer security automation for platform hardening, STIG application, and configuration enforcement.
• Build and maintain log pipelines and telemetry collection for the air-gapped SIEM.
• Integrate security tooling (endpoint protection, vulnerability scanning, detection) into the platform stack.
• Develop and maintain infrastructure-as-code for security components.
• Support security control implementation and evidence generation for RMF authorization.
• Partner with platform engineering to integrate identity, secrets management, and crypto services.

About the team
Diverse Experiences
Amazon Security 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 Amazon Security?
At Amazon, security is central to maintaining customer trust and delivering delightful customer experiences. Our organization is responsible for creating and maintaining a high bar for security across all of Amazon’s products and services. We offer talented security professionals the chance to accelerate their careers with opportunities to build experience in a wide variety of areas including cloud, devices, retail, entertainment, healthcare, operations, and physical stores.

Inclusive Team Culture
In Amazon Security, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Ongoing DEI events and learning experiences inspire us to continue learning and to embrace our uniqueness. Addressing the toughest security challenges requires that we seek out and celebrate a diversity of ideas, perspectives, and voices.

Training & 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, training, 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 flexible work hours and arrangements are part of our culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

Basic qualifications

• Knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals (networking, storage, operating systems)
• 3+ years of systems engineering experience
• Current, active US Government Security Clearance of TS/SCI with Polygraph
• Hands-on experience with Linux systems administration, automation (Ansible, Terraform, or equivalent), and scripting (Python, Bash).
• Experience integrating security tooling into infrastructure (SIEM, endpoint, vulnerability scanning).
• Understanding of Kubernetes, containerized workloads, and infrastructure-as-code.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience working in an Agile environment using the Scrum methodology
• Experience in air-gapped, classified, or disconnected environments.
• Familiarity with STIG application, CIS benchmarks, and hardening automation.
• Experience with multi-vendor COTS integration (storage, networking, compute).
• Security certification (e.g., Security+, CySA+, RHCSA).

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

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, VA, Herndon - 129,200.00 - 174,800.00 USD annually