Principal Worldwide Specialist, Kubernetes WWSO

📍 Job Overview

• Job Title: Principal Worldwide Specialist, Kubernetes WWSO
• Company: Amazon
• Location: San Francisco, California, United States; New York, New York, United States; Arlington, Virginia, United States; Seattle, Washington, United States
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Category: DevOps Engineer, Technical Specialist
• Date Posted: 2025-08-10
• Experience Level: 10+ years
• Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• 📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on driving AWS's Kubernetes (Amazon EKS) adoption, working with customers and partners to build cloud-native applications, and incubating new services. It requires a strong business development background, technical expertise in Kubernetes, and experience selling to large organizations.

• Own the go-to-market strategy for Amazon EKS, driving sales and technical strategy while collaborating with various stakeholders.

• Work with customers and partners to build Kubernetes applications and optimize their existing applications for better performance and agility.

• Incubate and launch new services or key features, ensuring sales and partner readiness and securing initial customers as 'lighthouse' references.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

• 📝 Enhancement Note: This role involves strategic planning, customer engagement, and technical expertise to drive AWS's Kubernetes adoption and growth.

• 1. Go-to-Market Strategy: Develop and execute go-to-market plans for Amazon EKS, driving overall sales and technical strategy, defining target markets, and executing strategies in collaboration with key internal stakeholders.

• 2. Customer & Partner Engagement: Work with customers and partners building Kubernetes applications, developing customer pipelines, and solving customer challenges to win deals.

• 3. Service Incubation & Launch: Incubate and launch new services or key features, ensuring sales and partner readiness, and working closely with internal development teams to guide product direction.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.

Experience: Over 7 years of experience in business agreements and professional or military experience.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in developing, negotiating, and executing business agreements.
• Strong business development and sales skills.
• Deep understanding of Kubernetes and cloud-native applications.
• Experience working with AWS services and understanding of AWS's strategic direction.
• Ability to influence leadership decisions at the organizational level.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience as a founder or executive focused on related segments, or as a practice leader or business unit owner.
• Experience selling to Fortune 1000 or Global 2000 organizations.
• Strong technical acumen and ability to understand and communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

• 📝 Enhancement Note: As this role focuses on business development and strategy, a portfolio showcasing successful go-to-market strategies, customer engagement, and service launches would be most relevant.

• Portfolio Essentials:

  • Case studies demonstrating successful go-to-market strategies for Kubernetes or other cloud-native technologies.
  • Examples of customer engagement and problem-solving, highlighting your ability to understand customer needs and provide tailored solutions.
  • Documentation of service launches, including sales readiness, partner engagement, and customer success stories.

• Technical Documentation:

  • Detailed go-to-market plans, including market segmentation, customer base, and industry verticals targeted.
  • Sales strategies and tactics used to drive adoption and growth.
  • Customer success stories and case studies, demonstrating the impact of your work on customer outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $158,400 - $262,000 USD per year (based on location and experience level).

Benefits:

• Medical, financial, and other benefits.
• Equity and sign-on payments (depending on the position offered).

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week).

🎯 Team & Company Context

Company Culture:

• Industry: E-commerce and cloud computing.
• Company Size: Large (over 1,000,000 employees).
• Founded: 1994.
• Team Structure: The Worldwide Specialist Organization (WWSO) is responsible for driving revenue, adoption, and growth across all customers and geographies. It includes business development (Specialist) roles and technical (Solutions Architect) roles.
• Development Methodology: AWS follows agile methodologies, focusing on customer-centric development and continuous improvement.

Career & Growth Analysis:

• Web Technology Career Level: This role is at the senior level, focusing on strategic planning, customer engagement, and technical expertise in Kubernetes and cloud-native applications.
• Reporting Structure: The Principal Worldwide Specialist reports to the WWSO leadership team and works closely with various internal stakeholders, including service teams, sales teams, and partners.
• Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on AWS's Kubernetes adoption, customer success, and service launches, driving business growth and innovation.

Growth Opportunities:

• 1. Strategic Leadership: Grow into a leadership role within the WWSO or other AWS organizations, driving strategic initiatives and influencing AWS's direction in the Kubernetes space.
• 2. Technical Expertise: Deepen your technical expertise in Kubernetes and cloud-native applications, becoming a go-to expert within AWS and the broader industry.
• 3. Customer & Partner Engagement: Expand your network and build strong relationships with AWS's largest customers and strategic partners, driving mutual success and growth.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Amazon's offices are designed to promote collaboration, innovation, and employee well-being, with a focus on sustainability and accessibility.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California; New York, New York; Arlington, Virginia; Seattle, Washington.

Workspace Context:

• 1. Collaborative Workspace: Amazon's offices feature open-plan workspaces, encouraging collaboration and teamwork among employees.
• 2. Technology & Tools: Employees have access to the latest technology and tools, including high-quality monitors, fast internet connections, and AWS's extensive suite of cloud services.
• 3. Work-Life Balance: Amazon offers flexible work arrangements, including remote work options, to help employees achieve a healthy work-life balance.

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week), with flexible hours and remote work options available.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

• 1. Phone Screen: A brief phone call to discuss your experience, qualifications, and fit for the role.
• 2. On-Site Interview: A full-day on-site interview at one of Amazon's offices, including meetings with various stakeholders, technical deep dives, and case studies.
• 3. Final Decision: A final decision will be made based on your interview performance, cultural fit, and alignment with Amazon's leadership principles.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• 1. Go-to-Market Strategies: Highlight successful go-to-market strategies you've developed and executed, demonstrating your ability to drive adoption and growth.
• 2. Customer Engagement: Showcase your ability to understand customer needs and provide tailored solutions by sharing customer success stories and case studies.
• 3. Service Launches: Detail your experience incubating and launching new services, including sales readiness, partner engagement, and customer success.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

• 1. Kubernetes Deep Dive: Brush up on your Kubernetes knowledge, focusing on its architecture, components, and best practices.
• 2. AWS Services: Familiarize yourself with AWS's suite of services, with a particular focus on Amazon EKS and other related services.
• 3. Business Acumen: Prepare for questions related to market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape in the Kubernetes and cloud-native application spaces.

ATS Keywords: [List of relevant Kubernetes, AWS, and business development keywords]

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Kubernetes & Cloud-Native Technologies:

• Kubernetes (core concepts, architecture, and best practices).
• Amazon EKS (AWS's managed Kubernetes service).
• Other relevant cloud-native technologies, such as Docker, Helm, and Istio.

AWS Services:

• Amazon EKS (managed Kubernetes service).
• Amazon ECS (container orchestration service).
• Amazon RDS (managed relational database service).
• Amazon S3 (object storage service).
• AWS Lambda (serverless computing service).
• AWS CloudFormation (infrastructure as code service).

Business Development & Sales Tools:

• Salesforce or other CRM platforms.
• Microsoft Office Suite or Google Workspace.
• Project management and collaboration tools, such as JIRA, Asana, or Trello.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

• 1. Customer Obsession: AWS is customer-obsessed, focusing on understanding and delivering customer needs and expectations.
• 2. Ownership: AWS employees take ownership of their work, driving results and holding themselves accountable for their success.
• 3. Invent & Simplify: AWS encourages innovation and continuous improvement, simplifying complex problems and processes.
• 4. Learn & Be Curious: AWS values learning and curiosity, fostering a culture of growth and development.

Collaboration Style:

• 1. Cross-Functional Collaboration: AWS teams work closely with various stakeholders, including customers, partners, and internal teams, to deliver innovative solutions.
• 2. Bias for Action: AWS employees are encouraged to take initiative, make decisions, and drive results.
• 3. Frugality: AWS promotes a culture of cost-consciousness and efficiency, focusing on delivering value to customers and shareholders.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

• 1. Kubernetes Complexity: Stay up-to-date with the latest Kubernetes developments and best practices, navigating its complex ecosystem and ever-evolving landscape.
• 2. Market Dynamics: Understand and adapt to the rapidly changing market dynamics in the Kubernetes and cloud-native application spaces.
• 3. Customer Needs: Continuously assess and address customer needs, ensuring AWS's Kubernetes offerings remain relevant and competitive.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• 1. Technical Expertise: Deepen your technical expertise in Kubernetes and cloud-native applications, staying current with the latest trends and best practices.
• 2. Business Development Skills: Enhance your business development and sales skills, learning from experienced colleagues and industry experts.
• 3. Leadership & Mentorship: Develop your leadership and mentorship skills, guiding and supporting other AWS employees in their career growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

• 1. Kubernetes Architecture: Demonstrate your understanding of Kubernetes architecture, components, and best practices.
• 2. AWS Services: Showcase your knowledge of AWS services, with a focus on Amazon EKS and other relevant services.
• 3. Market Trends: Discuss recent trends and developments in the Kubernetes and cloud-native application spaces, highlighting their impact on AWS's strategy.

Company & Culture Questions:

• 1. Amazon Leadership Principles: Explain how you've demonstrated Amazon's leadership principles in your previous roles.
• 2. Customer Obsession: Describe your approach to understanding and delivering customer needs and expectations.
• 3. AWS Services & Strategy: Explain your understanding of AWS's service portfolio and strategic direction, and how you would drive adoption and growth for Amazon EKS.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• 1. Go-to-Market Strategies: Present your most successful go-to-market strategies, highlighting your ability to drive adoption and growth.
• 2. Customer Engagement: Showcase your ability to understand customer needs and provide tailored solutions, sharing customer success stories and case studies.
• 3. Service Launches: Detail your experience incubating and launching new services, including sales readiness, partner engagement, and customer success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Worldwide Specialist, Kubernetes WWSO position at Amazon:

• Submit your application through the Amazon Jobs portal.
• Customize your resume and portfolio to highlight your relevant experience in business development, Kubernetes, and cloud-native applications.
• Prepare for phone and on-site interviews by brushing up on your technical skills, understanding AWS's services and strategy, and practicing your presentation skills.
• Research Amazon's company culture, leadership principles, and customer-centric approach to ensure a strong cultural fit.

📝 Enhancement Note: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Amazon before making application decisions.