Senior Software Engineer - Distributed PostgreSQL Engine, Aurora DSQL, Aurora Distributed SQL Query Processing

Amazon Aurora DSQL is a serverless, distributed SQL database that combines the performance and scalability of cloud-native architecture with the familiarity and ecosystem of PostgreSQL. Aurora DSQL automatically scales compute and storage, delivers high availability across regions, and eliminates operational overhead—while remaining compatible with PostgreSQL applications and tooling.

We are seeking PostgreSQL internals experts to advance Aurora DSQL’s query processing capabilities. This is a deep systems engineering role focused on ensuring semantic, functional, and behavioral parity with PostgreSQL while extending its architecture to run efficiently in a distributed, elastic environment.

As part of the core database engine team, you will work across the PostgreSQL planner, executor, and other subsystems to evolve Aurora DSQL’s hybrid execution model. The ideal candidate understands PostgreSQL internals—from parser to executor—and thrives on solving hard problems at the intersection of distributed systems, concurrency control, and database correctness.

Key job responsibilities
- Analyze, adapt, and extend PostgreSQL internals (parser, planner, executor, catalog, and transaction manager) to operate correctly and efficiently in Aurora DSQL’s distributed runtime.

- Build mechanisms that maintain PostgreSQL semantics (MVCC, snapshot isolation, error codes, data types, and function behavior) in a horizontally scalable environment.

- Develop compatibility test frameworks to validate DSQL’s correctness against upstream PostgreSQL.

- Collaborate with query processing, storage, and transaction teams to integrate distributed primitives into PostgreSQL-compatible interfaces.

- Debug complex behaviors in areas like visibility, locks, and plan caching to ensure fidelity with PostgreSQL behavior under distributed execution.

- Contribute to the long-term architecture enabling Aurora DSQL to support next-generation PostgreSQL features at virtually unlimited scale.

A day in the life
You’ll deep-dive into PostgreSQL internals—reasoning through planner/executor nodes, commit protocols, and system catalogs—while designing new abstractions that preserve correctness in distributed execution.
You’ll profile query behavior, validate transaction semantics across regions, and partner with engineers across compute, storage, and transaction subsystems to ensure every PostgreSQL feature “just works” on Aurora DSQL.
You’ll participate in design reviews, mentor engineers, and drive the compatibility roadmap for Aurora DSQL’s PostgreSQL layer.

About the team
We are the Aurora DSQL Query Processing team; this team is the execution engine behind every SQL executed statement in Aurora DSQL. We are responsible for bridging one of the world’s most advanced open-source databases with AWS’s distributed, serverless architecture.
Our engineers come from database internals backgrounds and large-scale distributed systems teams. We value curiosity, precision, and craftsmanship—and we work in an environment where deep systems problems meet high-scale real-world impact.

We are committed to mentorship, technical excellence, and shared ownership. You’ll work alongside engineers who have contributed to PostgreSQL’s planner, executor, and MVCC subsystems—and help define how Aurora DSQL evolves to support PostgreSQL workloads natively 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.

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.

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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 .

USA, CA, East Palo Alto - 193,300.00 - 261,500.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually