As part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge to reach net zero carbon by 2040, AWS is committed to reducing carbon emissions across our infrastructure, and we are seeking a Sr. Sustainability Specialist to integrate carbon impact into data center design throughout our building and infrastructure systems.
In this role you will be part of the Data Center Engineering Sustainability team and teams within Data Center Engineering to develop whole building LCA models and create plans to reduce the carbon intensity of current and next-generation AWS data center designs. You will be at the forefront of design efforts focused on decarbonizing our buildings to meet Amazon’s net zero carbon goals. This includes identify innovative solutions to that meet or exceed AWS’s technical and quality requirements and writing technical documentation for new initiatives.
In this role you will have you will have the opportunity to make significant impacts on decarbonizing the largest cloud infrastructure systems. You will analyze and identify the critical areas to deliver on our sustainability goals, develop and collaborate on new solutions, and track progress across design improvements. Amazon has a global presence, and some international travel will be necessary. You will be working on international teams and could require developing schematic and design document packages.
AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help. 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. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.
Key job responsibilities
In this role you will be responsible for:
• Producing Lifecycle Assessments of AWS Data Center global designs to quantify environmental impacts of our data centers
• Understanding the design and functionality of AWS data center globally
• Working with Design Engineers, manufacturers, vendors, and contractors to identify designs, technologies and materials to reduce the carbon intensity in our power distribution systems
• Providing guidance to the Design Engineering teams for reducing carbon intensity in new data centers and to support Field Engineering teams in evaluating upgrades to existing data centers
• Integrating lower carbon options in building materials and systems into the AWS Basis of Design for current and next-gen data center design
• Producing clear and concise documentation such as detailed design specifications, white papers, and reports
• Working on concurrent projects in multiple geographical regions and working with stakeholders across both technical and business functions
• Facilitate visioning and goal setting session, coordinating with all design disciplines, and internal and external stakeholders to formulate and develop design objectives and strategies
• Evaluation and maintenance of carbon impact of changes to Basis of Design, building prototype designs, and template specifications and development of low-carbon alternatives and designs in architectural systems and components
• Perform necessary modifications of drawings and specifications as construction projects progress
• Conduct site visits and progress meetings to observe construction and site activities
• Being a leader within the group as well as within other teams
• Offering creative, out of the box solutions
• Having fun and working hard!
A day in the life
Each day you will interact with different teams responsible for all aspects of the data centers. Your work will span the lifecycle of our buildings and allow you to influence how we develop and implement sustainability practices in existing, new and future data centers. You will have the opportunity to work on projects locally and globally.
About the team
Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, we embrace our differences. We are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion. We have ten employee-led affinity groups, reaching 40,000 employees in over 190 chapters globally. We have innovative benefit offerings, and we host annual and ongoing learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences. Amazon’s culture of inclusion is reinforced within our 16 Leadership Principles, which remind team members to seek diverse perspectives, learn and be curious, and earn trust.
Work/Life Balance
Our team also puts a high value on work-life balance. Striking a healthy balance between your personal and professional life is crucial to your happiness and success here, which is why we aren’t focused on how many hours you spend at work or online. Instead, we’re happy to offer a flexible schedule so you can have a more productive and well-balanced life—both in and outside of work.
Mentorship & Career Growth
Our team is dedicated to supporting new team members. Our team has a broad mix of experience levels and Amazon tenures, and we’re building an environment that celebrates knowledge sharing and mentorship.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Building Sciences, or equivalent experience
• Experience developing whole building lifecycle analysis models for the built environment
• 2+ years of professional experience in data center, mission critical, or high-performance building design
• Master’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Sustainability, Environmental Policy or related field
• 3+ years of professional experience directly related to data center design, construction, operations, or facility maintenance.
• Experience with Autodesk Revit and analyzing embodied carbon using BIM model data (e.g. OneClick LCA or similar software)
• Comprehensive knowledge of embodied carbon reporting and environmental impacts of building materials, such as Environmental Product Declarations. Experience obtaining, managing, and reviewing carbon data from regional databases or sources. Experience leading or evaluating net zero building programs, sustainable design, or high-performance building design projects. Knowledge of building assessment programs (LEED, Living Building Challenge, BREEAM, etc.)
• Experience reviewing building design drawings and submittals for architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical and related disciplines.
Knowledge of mechanical and electrical equipment and systems related to data centers, including but not limited to: chillers, pumps, cooling towers, heat exchangers, air handling units, uninterruptible power supplies, switchgear, and generators. Knowledge of basic data analytics of scripting languages (Python, R, MATLAB, or similar software)
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.
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $105,100/year in our lowest geographic market up to $185,000/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit
https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits. This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.
