Systems Development Engineer Jobs in Washington
Systems Development Engineer jobs in Washington are among the most actively recruited technical roles in the country, concentrated in cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and enterprise automation across the Seattle metro, Redmond, and Bellevue corridors. Demand stretches from entry-level associate engineers through senior and staff-level positions, driven by anchors like Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing, which maintain large and enduring engineering workforces in the state. Toolchain automation, CI/CD pipeline engineering, and large-scale infrastructure reliability are the most in-demand specialties right now. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 44+ Systems Development Engineer jobs
DESCRIPTION
We are seeking a Software Development Engineer to work on an in-house distributed database system the serves some of the most demanding needs of AWS services. This system pioneered database concepts that are now considered state-of-the-art innovations within the field. In this role you will continue to innovate for Amazon and support AWS’ ever-increasing needs and scale. Your responsibilities will include designing and developing novel, distributed, highly available, and scalable database technologies. You will be working with a team of highly passionate and knowledgeable SDEs, participating in design, code reviews, and engaging in problem-solving. You will engage with customers to understand their needs and support them operationally. While maintaining current technical knowledge to support rapidly changing technology, you will look out for new technologies and work with the team to adapt and improvise. Candidates will have the opportunity to work with senior engineers who have built deep knowledge in distributed systems and database technologies.
Key job responsibilities
Our engineers collaborate across diverse teams, projects, and environments to have a firsthand impact on our global customer base. You’ll bring a passion for innovation, data, search, analytics, and distributed systems.
You’ll also:
- Solve challenging technical problems, often ones not solved before, at every layer of the stack.
- Design, implement, test, deploy and maintain innovative software solutions to transform service performance, durability, cost, and security.
- Build high-quality, highly available, always-on products.
- Research implementations that deliver the best possible experiences for customers.
A day in the life
As you design and code solutions to help our team drive efficiencies in software architecture, you’ll create metrics, implement automation and other improvements, and resolve the root cause of software defects.
You’ll also:
- Build high-impact solutions to deliver to our large customer base.
- Participate in design discussions, code review, and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
- Work cross-functionally to help drive business decisions with your technical input.
- Work in a startup-like development environment, where you’re always working on the most important stuff.
About the team
Our team is dedicated to supporting new members. We have a broad mix of experience levels and tenures, and we’re building an environment that celebrates knowledge-sharing and mentorship. Our senior members enjoy one-on-one mentoring and thorough, but kind, code reviews. We care about your career growth and strive to assign projects that help our team members develop your engineering expertise so you feel empowered to take on more complex tasks in the future.
AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred 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.
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
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
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, WA, Seattle - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
We are seeking a Software Development Engineer to work on an in-house distributed database system the serves some of the most demanding needs of AWS services. This system pioneered database concepts that are now considered state-of-the-art innovations within the field. In this role you will continue to innovate for Amazon and support AWS’ ever-increasing needs and scale. Your responsibilities will include designing and developing novel, distributed, highly available, and scalable database technologies. You will be working with a team of highly passionate and knowledgeable SDEs, participating in design, code reviews, and engaging in problem-solving. You will engage with customers to understand their needs and support them operationally. While maintaining current technical knowledge to support rapidly changing technology, you will look out for new technologies and work with the team to adapt and improvise. Candidates will have the opportunity to work with senior engineers who have built deep knowledge in distributed systems and database technologies.
Key job responsibilities
Our engineers collaborate across diverse teams, projects, and environments to have a firsthand impact on our global customer base. You’ll bring a passion for innovation, data, search, analytics, and distributed systems.
You’ll also:
- Solve challenging technical problems, often ones not solved before, at every layer of the stack.
- Design, implement, test, deploy and maintain innovative software solutions to transform service performance, durability, cost, and security.
- Build high-quality, highly available, always-on products.
- Research implementations that deliver the best possible experiences for customers.
A day in the life
As you design and code solutions to help our team drive efficiencies in software architecture, you’ll create metrics, implement automation and other improvements, and resolve the root cause of software defects.
You’ll also:
- Build high-impact solutions to deliver to our large customer base.
- Participate in design discussions, code review, and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
- Work cross-functionally to help drive business decisions with your technical input.
- Work in a startup-like development environment, where you’re always working on the most important stuff.
About the team
Our team is dedicated to supporting new members. We have a broad mix of experience levels and tenures, and we’re building an environment that celebrates knowledge-sharing and mentorship. Our senior members enjoy one-on-one mentoring and thorough, but kind, code reviews. We care about your career growth and strive to assign projects that help our team members develop your engineering expertise so you feel empowered to take on more complex tasks in the future.
AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred 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.
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
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
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, WA, Seattle - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually
See All 44 Systems Development Engineer Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSystems Development Engineer Jobs by City in Washington
Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Systems Development Engineer Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Amazon29
- Amazon Web Services14
- Blue Origin1
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Technology & Software
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces
What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in systems development engineer jobs across Washington.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a closely related technical field
- Proficiency in at least one scripting or systems language such as Python, Go, or C++
- Hands-on experience designing, deploying, and maintaining CI/CD pipelines and build automation systems
- Familiarity with cloud platforms, particularly AWS or Azure, given Washington's dominant cloud employers
- Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, or Ansible
- Strong debugging and performance profiling skills across distributed or large-scale production environments
Systems Development Engineer Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a systems development engineer in Washington?
The typical path into a systems development engineer role in Washington begins with a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related discipline from a Washington university or out-of-state program. Washington does not require a state-issued license for this role. Most employers in the Seattle and Redmond area look for demonstrated systems programming ability, cloud platform experience, and a portfolio of automation or infrastructure projects, with strong candidates also pursuing AWS or Azure certifications to stand out.
How much do systems development engineers make in Washington?
Systems development engineers in Washington earn a median of about $166,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $96,810 for the lowest 10% to over $255,350 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire systems development engineers in Washington?
Employers hiring systems development engineers in Washington right now include Amazon, Amazon Web Services, and Blue Origin, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Washington's concentration of cloud, aerospace, and enterprise software companies makes it one of the most consistently active states for this role year-round.
Which Washington cities have the most systems development engineer jobs?
Seattle, Redmond, and Bellevue have the most systems development engineer openings in Washington. The Seattle metro and its eastside communities of Redmond and Bellevue account for the bulk of postings, anchored by the global headquarters of Microsoft and the principal engineering offices of Amazon, with smaller concentrations in cities like Kirkland and Bothell tied to mid-size tech and aerospace contractors.
Are there remote systems development engineer jobs in Washington?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 0% of systems development engineer openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how readily the core work of pipeline automation, build tooling, and infrastructure management can be done without an on-site requirement. Build and release engineering sub-roles tend to offer the highest share of fully remote arrangements.
How can I get hired as a systems development engineer in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a university new-grad program: Amazon and Microsoft both run structured associate and rotational engineering programs in Washington that are explicitly designed for candidates with limited professional experience. Lateral moves from adjacent roles such as DevOps technician, IT systems administrator, or QA automation engineer are also common on-ramps. Building a public GitHub portfolio with CI/CD or infrastructure-as-code projects and earning an AWS Cloud Practitioner or Azure Fundamentals certification before applying gives candidates a concrete edge in Washington screening.
Where can I find and apply to systems development engineer jobs in Washington?
You can find and apply to systems development engineer jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current Washington openings updated regularly. Find roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 44 Systems Development Engineer Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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