Job Description

DESCRIPTION

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AWS Specialist Solutions Architects (SSAs) are technologists with deep domain-specific expertise, capable of addressing advanced concepts and feature designs. As part of the AWS sales organization, SSAs work with customers facing complex challenges that require expert-level knowledge to solve. SSAs craft scalable, secure, and resilient technical architectures to address these challenges. This may involve guiding customers as they refactor applications or designing entirely new cloud-based solutions.



Principal-level Specialist SAs operate in environments where business objectives are undefined and problems are emergent or novel. They shape entire markets, influence industry-defining regulatory frameworks, and orchestrate solutions across multiple large organizations. As domain experts, Principal SSAs also lead field engagement and enablement, producing thought leadership content such as whitepapers, blogs, and workshops for customers, partners, and the AWS Technical Field.



Key job responsibilities

Digital Sovereignty Specialist Solutions Architects combine deep technical expertise in digital sovereignty with business acumen and technical sales skills. At the Principal level, this role extends beyond customer support to market creation and regulatory influence.



Principal SSAs are responsible for:

Strategic Market Leadership: Shaping sovereign cloud market standards and establishing AWS as the definitive leader in sovereign cloud solutions across key regions

Regulatory Framework Development: Leading engagements with federal agencies, standards bodies, and regulators to influence market-defining frameworks and accreditation schemes

Complex Solution Architecture: Designing and architecting solutions for emergent digital sovereignty challenges where standard playbooks don't exist, requiring invention of new approaches

Cross-Organizational Orchestration: Coordinating across multiple large organizations--internally (Service Teams, Security, Legal, Public Policy) and externally (ISVs, GSIs, enterprise customers, regulators)

Customer Unblocking at Scale: Accelerating paths to production for strategic customers facing novel sovereignty requirements, particularly in regulated industries

Upstream Service Influence: Driving product and service enhancements based on sovereignty requirements, directly shaping AWS service roadmaps

Thought Leadership: Contributing to industry discourse through authoritative content creation, speaking engagements, and formal cooperation agreements that serve as templates globally



This role requires navigating conflicting stakeholder priorities, building consensus among cabinet-level decision authorities, and delivering solutions that balance technical feasibility with regulatory compliance and business objectives.



Joining AWS as a Principal Specialist Solutions Architect offers opportunities to work on industry-defining challenges, collaborate with world-class practitioners focused on delivering transformational outcomes for customers, and be part of a diverse and inclusive community committed to being Earth's Best Employer. This role requires exceptional innovation capabilities, a customer-centric mindset, and the ability to navigate highly complex technical, regulatory, and business landscapes.



About the team

Diverse Experiences: AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job below, 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.



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

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8+ years of experience in technical roles with demonstrated progression to strategic leadership
Proven experience communicating across technical and non-technical audiences, including C-level executives, regulatory authorities, and government stakeholders
Deep experience architecting and operating complex solutions built on AWS, with demonstrated ability to influence service team roadmaps
Expert-level presentation skills with experience speaking to executives, IT leadership, management, developers, and regulatory bodies
Demonstrated ability to operate in ambiguous environments where business objectives are undefined
Track record of shaping industry standards, regulatory frameworks, or market-defining initiatives

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

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Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics or equivalent; advanced degree preferred
Extensive experience in technical leadership roles within sales or consulting organizations
Deep knowledge of AWS services across multiple domains, with particular expertise in security, compliance, and data protection
Proven expertise in regulated industries (financial services, public sector, healthcare, or defense)
Experience authoring regulatory guidance, compliance frameworks, or industry standards documentation
Demonstrated success building and maintaining relationships with regulatory authorities and standards bodies
Cloud Technology Certifications (such as AWS Solutions Architecture Professional, Cloud Security Professional, or equivalent)
Multilingual capabilities, particularly in languages relevant to key sovereignty markets
Published thought leadership (whitepapers, technical blogs, conference presentations) in cloud security, compliance, or digital sovereignty domains
Experience with accreditation processes and security frameworks (ISO 27001, SOC 2, government security classifications)



Amazon is an equal opportunities employer. We believe passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to our success. We make recruiting decisions based on your experience and skills. We value your passion to discover, invent, simplify and build. Protecting your privacy and the security of your data is a longstanding top priority for Amazon. Please consult our Privacy Notice (https://www.amazon.jobs/en/privacy_page) to know more about how we collect, use and transfer the personal data of our candidates.



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.