Systems Development Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Systems Development Engineers build and optimize large-scale infrastructure at tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. Most positions qualify for H-1B sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring computer science or engineering degrees. The role's technical depth and clear degree requirements make visa approval highly likely. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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SysDE (System Development Engineer):
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Hardware Engineering Services (HWEngS) team creates compute, storage, accelerator, and enterprise servers for Amazon’s innovative web services. We are seeking an experienced SysDE who collaborates with Server Hardware Engineers and completes the system design and software/script development work required to build next-generation servers and HW components. Our designs are industry-leading in performance, frugality and operational excellence, and are critical to the success of the AWS business and the greater than one million customers who use AWS today. Our SysDE’s solve challenging technology problems, and builds architecturally sound, high-quality servers and components to enable AWS to realize critical business strategies. Our success depends on our highly respected server infrastructure; we’re handling massive scale and rapid integration of emergent technologies.
What you will do: As a member of the Specialized Platforms and Servers team, you’ll be responsible for the integration of hardware/software components to build our servers, working with service teams to define products, and supporting operations in all the locations we have servers. You will interact with engineers across the company and work with an interdisciplinary team to execute product designs from concept to production including design, development, validation, and the deployment of servers at scale.
You will solve design challenges across many disciplines including server firmware/software, integration into our software service control plane, manufacturing, and operations. You will deliver test plan coverage criteria, and monitor plans used to build our servers and components. You will work closely with internal teams to prototype concept designs, bring up systems, and ensure our designs are of the highest quality. You will use high judgement to solve problems individually or guide others when help is needed.
This is a fast-paced, challenging position, and you’ll work with thought leaders in multiple technology areas. You’ll have high standards for yourself and everyone you work with, and you’ll be constantly looking for ways to improve your products performance, quality and cost. We’re changing an industry, and we want team members who are ready for this challenge and want to reach beyond what is possible today.
Why it matters: Public cloud IT services represent the majority of growth in the overall IT services market and will continue to do so for several years to come. The scale of AWS, combined with an understanding of how our hardware is used, creates a unique opportunity for hardware customizations that will directly benefit AWS customers.
Why you will love it: You will work directly with engineers across the company to build next-generation hardware. You will have a direct impact on our bottom line and the ability to deliver improvements for our customers. You will be part of a growing, fast paced, and fun team. You will have ownership for the implementation of your work.
Key job responsibilities
As SysDE you will be part of a team that solves systemic issues, drives changes back into development, and builds mechanisms to scale and efficiently operate our infrastructure. As a member of the AWS HWEngS team, you will work with other subject matter experts in compute, memory, storage technologies to develop and deliver the best customer experience in cloud computing.
We aim to hire engineers who will thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative and open environment, who aren't afraid to dive-deep to solve seemingly impossible challenges, who want to build rock solid never-fail, highly-secure hardware at world-class scale and who obsess over customers.
A day in the life
Your day to day responsibilities will include leading the HWEngS System Development effort to define and build software and enabling tools, according to defined HWEngS Software development best practices. You will be responsible for solving operational challenges to our existing fleet with the goal of improving the current customer experience as well as developing improved systems for future designs. You will interface with internal HWEngS teams to ensure chosen HW and FW delivers performance, reliability, and operational health needed by the EC2 Specialized Platforms and Servers. You will build, manage, and deploy pipelines for rapid deployment of new code changes to EC2 Specialized Platforms and Servers. You will build monitoring tools and metrics to ensure hardware is running properly in both test and production environments.
About the team
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. You’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.
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.
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.
Utility Computing (UC)
AWS Utility Computing (UC) provides product innovations — from foundational services such as Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), to consistently released new product innovations that continue to set AWS’s services and features apart in the industry. As a member of the UC organization, you’ll support the development and management of Compute, Database, Storage, Internet of Things (IoT), Platform, and Productivity Apps services in AWS, including support for customers who require specialized security solutions for their cloud services.
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 (gender diversity) conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.
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.
Mentorship and 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.
Diverse Experiences
Amazon 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.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 4+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 3+ years of designing or architecting (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals (networking, storage, operating systems)
- Experience programming with at least one modern language such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Golang, PowerShell, Ruby
- 3+ years of deploying and operating in a Linux/Unix environment experience
- 2+ years of systems design, software development, operations, automation, and process improvement experience
- Experience in computer architecture, or experience with general troubleshooting/debugging of hardware
- Experience handling ambiguous or undefined challenges through strong problem solving abilities
- BS degree in computer science, computer engineering, or related field, or 2+ years of technical work experience
- Experience with modern technology devices in storage, networking, memory as well as a variety of interface standards and protocols (I2C, IPMI, SPI, PCIe)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in an Agile environment using the Scrum methodology
- 4+ years of systems development experience
- 5+ years of integration, testing and automation experience
- Experience in Network protocols like DNS/DHCP/TCP, or experience in Linux and Networking protocols and experience with web-based applications and HTTP
- Experience in written and verbal communication skills to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership
- 4+ years of server systems debug experience; debugging and root causing complex server platforms
- 4+ years of experience contributing towards increasing durability, security, availability and scalability of systems through exploration, diagnosis and remediation
- Experience developing, deploying, and owning cloud applications
- Familiarity with AWS and EC2, with ideally hands on experience
- Ability to dive deep to analyze complex issues, solve problems, and automate repetitive tasks
- Experience in developing functional design specifications, validation plans and functional test procedures
- Experience with server technologies: BIOS, BMC, signal integrity, memory, storage, networking, PCIe, and thermal
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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, CA, Cupertino - 148,700.00 - 201,200.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 129,200.00 - 174,800.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
SysDE (System Development Engineer):
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Hardware Engineering Services (HWEngS) team creates compute, storage, accelerator, and enterprise servers for Amazon’s innovative web services. We are seeking an experienced SysDE who collaborates with Server Hardware Engineers and completes the system design and software/script development work required to build next-generation servers and HW components. Our designs are industry-leading in performance, frugality and operational excellence, and are critical to the success of the AWS business and the greater than one million customers who use AWS today. Our SysDE’s solve challenging technology problems, and builds architecturally sound, high-quality servers and components to enable AWS to realize critical business strategies. Our success depends on our highly respected server infrastructure; we’re handling massive scale and rapid integration of emergent technologies.
What you will do: As a member of the Specialized Platforms and Servers team, you’ll be responsible for the integration of hardware/software components to build our servers, working with service teams to define products, and supporting operations in all the locations we have servers. You will interact with engineers across the company and work with an interdisciplinary team to execute product designs from concept to production including design, development, validation, and the deployment of servers at scale.
You will solve design challenges across many disciplines including server firmware/software, integration into our software service control plane, manufacturing, and operations. You will deliver test plan coverage criteria, and monitor plans used to build our servers and components. You will work closely with internal teams to prototype concept designs, bring up systems, and ensure our designs are of the highest quality. You will use high judgement to solve problems individually or guide others when help is needed.
This is a fast-paced, challenging position, and you’ll work with thought leaders in multiple technology areas. You’ll have high standards for yourself and everyone you work with, and you’ll be constantly looking for ways to improve your products performance, quality and cost. We’re changing an industry, and we want team members who are ready for this challenge and want to reach beyond what is possible today.
Why it matters: Public cloud IT services represent the majority of growth in the overall IT services market and will continue to do so for several years to come. The scale of AWS, combined with an understanding of how our hardware is used, creates a unique opportunity for hardware customizations that will directly benefit AWS customers.
Why you will love it: You will work directly with engineers across the company to build next-generation hardware. You will have a direct impact on our bottom line and the ability to deliver improvements for our customers. You will be part of a growing, fast paced, and fun team. You will have ownership for the implementation of your work.
Key job responsibilities
As SysDE you will be part of a team that solves systemic issues, drives changes back into development, and builds mechanisms to scale and efficiently operate our infrastructure. As a member of the AWS HWEngS team, you will work with other subject matter experts in compute, memory, storage technologies to develop and deliver the best customer experience in cloud computing.
We aim to hire engineers who will thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative and open environment, who aren't afraid to dive-deep to solve seemingly impossible challenges, who want to build rock solid never-fail, highly-secure hardware at world-class scale and who obsess over customers.
A day in the life
Your day to day responsibilities will include leading the HWEngS System Development effort to define and build software and enabling tools, according to defined HWEngS Software development best practices. You will be responsible for solving operational challenges to our existing fleet with the goal of improving the current customer experience as well as developing improved systems for future designs. You will interface with internal HWEngS teams to ensure chosen HW and FW delivers performance, reliability, and operational health needed by the EC2 Specialized Platforms and Servers. You will build, manage, and deploy pipelines for rapid deployment of new code changes to EC2 Specialized Platforms and Servers. You will build monitoring tools and metrics to ensure hardware is running properly in both test and production environments.
About the team
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. You’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.
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.
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.
Utility Computing (UC)
AWS Utility Computing (UC) provides product innovations — from foundational services such as Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), to consistently released new product innovations that continue to set AWS’s services and features apart in the industry. As a member of the UC organization, you’ll support the development and management of Compute, Database, Storage, Internet of Things (IoT), Platform, and Productivity Apps services in AWS, including support for customers who require specialized security solutions for their cloud services.
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 (gender diversity) conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.
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.
Mentorship and 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.
Diverse Experiences
Amazon 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.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 4+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 3+ years of designing or architecting (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals (networking, storage, operating systems)
- Experience programming with at least one modern language such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Golang, PowerShell, Ruby
- 3+ years of deploying and operating in a Linux/Unix environment experience
- 2+ years of systems design, software development, operations, automation, and process improvement experience
- Experience in computer architecture, or experience with general troubleshooting/debugging of hardware
- Experience handling ambiguous or undefined challenges through strong problem solving abilities
- BS degree in computer science, computer engineering, or related field, or 2+ years of technical work experience
- Experience with modern technology devices in storage, networking, memory as well as a variety of interface standards and protocols (I2C, IPMI, SPI, PCIe)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in an Agile environment using the Scrum methodology
- 4+ years of systems development experience
- 5+ years of integration, testing and automation experience
- Experience in Network protocols like DNS/DHCP/TCP, or experience in Linux and Networking protocols and experience with web-based applications and HTTP
- Experience in written and verbal communication skills to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership
- 4+ years of server systems debug experience; debugging and root causing complex server platforms
- 4+ years of experience contributing towards increasing durability, security, availability and scalability of systems through exploration, diagnosis and remediation
- Experience developing, deploying, and owning cloud applications
- Familiarity with AWS and EC2, with ideally hands on experience
- Ability to dive deep to analyze complex issues, solve problems, and automate repetitive tasks
- Experience in developing functional design specifications, validation plans and functional test procedures
- Experience with server technologies: BIOS, BMC, signal integrity, memory, storage, networking, PCIe, and thermal
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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, CA, Cupertino - 148,700.00 - 201,200.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 129,200.00 - 174,800.00 USD annually
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Systems Development Engineer
Target infrastructure-heavy companies
Focus on cloud providers, streaming services, and e-commerce giants. Companies like AWS, Netflix, and Uber heavily sponsor Systems Development Engineers because reliable infrastructure is business-critical.
Emphasize systems architecture experience
Highlight experience with distributed systems, cloud platforms, and automation tools. Employers need to justify why the role requires specialized knowledge beyond general software development.
Computer Science or Engineering degree required
This role typically requires a bachelor's in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field. Electrical Engineering can work if you have relevant coursework or experience.
Showcase automation and DevOps skills
Experience with CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and monitoring systems strengthens your specialty occupation case. These skills directly relate to systems reliability and scalability.
Consider both SDE and SysDE roles
Some companies use "Software Development Engineer" for similar infrastructure roles. Expand your search to include both titles, especially at Amazon where distinctions vary by team.
Highlight on-call and reliability experience
Production support experience demonstrates the specialized knowledge needed for systems roles. Mention incident response, troubleshooting complex outages, and maintaining service level agreements.
Systems Development Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Systems Development Engineer roles qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, Systems Development Engineer positions typically qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B requirements. The role requires specialized knowledge in distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and automation that directly relates to computer science or engineering education. Companies regularly sponsor these positions.
What degree do I need for Systems Development Engineer H-1B approval?
A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or closely related field is typically required. Electrical Engineering can work with relevant coursework or experience in software systems. The degree must relate to the specialized technical requirements of systems infrastructure work.
How do I prove specialty occupation for a Systems Development Engineer role?
Focus on the technical complexity of distributed systems, automation, and infrastructure reliability requirements. Document experience with cloud platforms, DevOps tools, and production systems. The role's requirement for specialized engineering knowledge beyond general programming helps establish specialty occupation status.
Are Systems Development Engineer roles available on other work visas?
Yes, these roles can qualify for L-1B transfers if you have specialized company knowledge, O-1 visas for exceptional technical ability in systems architecture, or E-3 visas for Australians. TN visa qualification depends on specific job duties and whether they align with Computer Systems Analyst classification.
What's the difference between SDE and Systems Development Engineer for visa purposes?
Both typically qualify for the same visa categories, but Systems Development Engineer roles often have stronger specialty occupation cases due to infrastructure focus. The specialized knowledge in distributed systems, reliability engineering, and production operations can make H-1B approval more straightforward than general software development positions.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Systems Development Engineer jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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