Amazon Foundational Security Services (AFSS) delivers internal cross-Amazon security solutions for identity and access management, authorization, and authentication. We support the full stack of internal security from host bootstrapping, service authentication, human multi-factor authentication, and resource authorization. Security is our top priority, but we also obsess with availability, scale, and cost-to-serve.

AFSS is looking for an experienced Director of Software Development to help us transform the way we create and maintain access controls across Amazon. You will be responsible for operating Tier-1 services that are foundational to Amazon operations and establishing a new vision and approach for enabling business agility while improving the security bar. Our vision is to remove the burden of manual configuration from the vast majority of configurations, removing friction from builders while improving the security bar. This is particularly challenging given the diverse use cases we support, the existing operational dependencies, and the scale at which we operate.

If you love transforming business processes, moving quickly, and building high performing teams, you will be a good fit. This role has substantial visibility with our senior executives and is a great fit for a leader who thrives on moving quickly. You will need to understand security outcomes and have a passion for excellent customer experience. You will draw from your deep and broad technical expertise to guide software engineers, principal engineers, and development managers on system design, incremental delivery, and operational excellence. You will be responsible for defining and delivering on industry-leading technology initiatives including the use of generative AI to accelerate development efforts, transform service operations, and shipping AI authorization feature to enable the business to continue to leverage agentic AI.

You and your team will be responsible for inventing and simplifying experiences for internal customers. This role is inherently cross-functional and requires the ability to think big and collaborate with others as you work closely with teams across engineering, operations, finance, and security. We are looking for a critical thinker who thrives on solving challenges in partnership with teams across Amazon.

Key job responsibilities
Professional traits that are not unique to this position, but necessary for Amazon leaders at this level:

• High judgment decision-maker who actively seeks input from others to make high- velocity decisions
• Curious, likes to dig into hard, complex problems and technologies
• Servant leader
• Likes to challenge their customers and teams to solve a problem, knowing when to step in and provide structure and urgency to move the business forward quickly
• Expects effort and rewards results
• Structured, analytical problem solver
• Follows the data Thinks strategically and long term, but willingly and naturally dives deep and stays on top of tactical execution
• Holds self and teams to a high standard
• Healthy intolerance for the status quo. Like to shake things up and contemplate the impossible
• Ability to handle multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
  Exceptional customer relationship skills

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in information security, Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Statistics or related discipline, or 12+ years’ equivalent technology experience
• 8+ years of industry experience with a proven track record of delivery leading software development teams

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years experience managing and building software with very high availability and operational excellence requirements
• Understanding information security, privacy frameworks, and compliance requirements
• Ability to effectively coordinate between technical teams and business stakeholders
• Strong ability to build alignment to your teams’ vision across diverse business leaders
• Ability to drive enterprise-scale changes to existing systems
• Effective written and oral communication with multiple levels of leadership involving both business and technical sides of the business

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 - 264,100.00 - 350,000.00 USD annually