Principal Real Estate Development Manager, AMERICAS Real Estate Development

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is seeking an experienced Real Estate Principal to lead the strategy, identification, acquisition, and development of properties for data centers that will power AWSs expanding global cloud infrastructure. This individual will play a critical role in securing strategic sites that meet the technical, environmental, and financial needs of AWS while aligning with our long-term growth goals.

The ideal candidate brings significant experience in real estate site selection, acquisition, and development, with experience specifically focused on data center-related projects. This role requires deep expertise in navigating zoning regulations, utility partnerships, environmental constraints, and ownership structures to secure the most viable properties. The Principal will also have demonstrated success in complex negotiations, including purchase agreements, build-to-suit arrangements, and colocation deals.

At AWS, the Real Estate Principal will collaborate with internal teams, including engineering, construction, legal, and finance, to ensure the seamless delivery of land for data center projects. This role offers the unique opportunity to shape AWSs future by identifying high-value locations that meet the rigorous power, latency, and capacity requirements of the largest cloud infrastructure in the world. You will work at the intersection of real estate strategy, development, and business growth, helping AWS meet the ever-increasing demand for cloud services globally.

In addition to managing a pipeline of strategic real estate transactions, the Principal will drive the continuous improvement of AWSs land acquisition processes. This includes streamlining our site development process, overseeing entitlement work, and fostering relationships with developers, utility providers, and municipalities. The ideal candidate is a results-driven, strategic thinker with the ability to balance speed, quality, and cost in high-stakes real estate deals.

Key job responsibilities

Site Selection & Acquisition:

-Identify, evaluate, and secure sites that meet AWSs data center needs, considering key factors like geographical latency, access to power and water, and zoning regulations.

-Lead the due diligence process, evaluating environmental conditions, ownership structures, and regulatory hurdles.

-Collaborate with local governments, landowners, brokers, and developers to source strategic locations and assess potential risks.

Real Estate Negotiations & Transactions:

-Develop and execute complex real estate deals, including purchases, leases, build-to-suit agreements, and colocation contracts.

-Negotiate favorable terms with developers, landlords, and municipalities to meet AWSs operational and financial goals.

-Manage deal flow across multiple regions, ensuring timely execution while balancing risk and scalability.

Development Oversight:

-Oversee entitlement, zoning, and permitting processes to ensure smooth site delivery.

-Coordinate with engineering, design, and construction teams to align project requirements with site characteristics.

-Ensure pre-construction work, such as grading, fencing, and offsite improvements, is completed to support timely development.

Stakeholder Engagement:

-Partner with internal teams across legal, finance, construction, and operations to align real estate strategies with AWSs long-term growth objectives.

-Build and maintain relationships with local municipalities, utility providers, and economic development agencies to support project success.

-Provide regular updates to senior leadership on site acquisition progress, risks, and market trends.

A day in the life

About AWS

Diverse Experiences

AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasnt followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, dont let it stop you from applying.

Why AWS?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the worlds most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating thats 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

AWS values curiosity and connection. Our employee-led and company-sponsored affinity groups promote inclusion and empower our people to take pride in what makes us unique. Our inclusion events foster stronger, more collaborative teams. Our continual innovation is fueled by the bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and passionate voices our teams bring to everything we do.

Mentorship & Career Growth

Were continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earths Best Employer. Thats why youll 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, theres nothing we cant achieve.

About the team

AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, were 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 were looking for talented people who want to help.

Youll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. Youll 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 youll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.

Basic Qualifications

- Bachelors Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related fields.

- 15+ years of real-estate development experience

- 5+ years of data center real estate experience

Preferred Qualifications

- Master's Degree or higher (including Juris Doctor) in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related fields.

- Understanding of and experience in the Data Center industry, including data center siting and general operations.

- Experience with successful negotiations through high-value complex deal structures and delivery of cost savings and on-time deal closures.

- Strong knowledge of alternative real estate transaction approaches, structures, and best practices, related development processes, and commercial/industrial site selection.

- Ability to understand & communicate high level electrical, power & cooling, fiber optics, and other technical requirements, particularly related to Internet infrastructure

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 for more information. If the country/region youre applying in isnt 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 $158,400/year in our lowest geographic market up to $261,900/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 . This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.