AMI Engineer / Architect

Job Title: AMI Engineer / Architect Work Stream: AMI Management (Amazon Machine Images) Location: Remote (US preferred) Duration: 3+ months with possibility of extension Job Summary We are seeking a skilled AMI Engineer/Architect to lead the AMI Management work stream, focusing on designing, building, and maintaining Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) at scale. The role involves automating AMI creation and lifecycle management using Terraform, ensuring secure, compliant, and consistent base images for enterprise workloads across AWS EC2 environments. Key Responsibilities • AMI Management & Automation • Design and manage AMI pipelines for golden image creation, updates, and distribution. • Automate AMI builds and lifecycle processes using Terraform and image-building tools (e.g., Packer, EC2 Image Builder). • Maintain version control of AMIs and ensure rollback strategies for production workloads. • EC2 Image Engineering • Build hardened EC2 AMIs with security patches, compliance configurations, and monitoring agents baked in. • Optimize AMIs for different workload types (web servers, databases, container hosts). • Standardize AMIs for multi-account and multi-region AWS environments. • Terraform & Infrastructure as Code • Develop Terraform modules for provisioning AMIs and associated EC2 infrastructure. • Integrate AMI pipelines into CI/CD workflows for automated updates and deployments. • Enforce governance and compliance for IaC-driven AMI deployments. • Security & Compliance • Ensure AMIs meet compliance standards (CIS Benchmarks, STIG, PCI-DSS, HIPAA). • Automate vulnerability scanning and patching within AMI pipelines. • Maintain audit logs and reporting for AMI usage across environments. • Collaboration & Support • Work with application and DevOps teams to onboard workloads onto approved AMIs. • Provide troubleshooting support for EC2 image-related performance or compatibility issues. • Document AMI build processes, standards, and operating procedures. Required Skills & Experience • 5+ years of experience in AWS infrastructure or DevOps engineering. • Hands-on expertise with Amazon EC2 and AMI lifecycle management. • Strong proficiency with Terraform (IaC design, automation, reusable modules). • Experience with AMI build tools such as Packer or EC2 Image Builder. • Knowledge of Linux administration, patching, and hardening practices. • Understanding of CI/CD pipelines and image automation workflows. Nice-to-Have Skills • Experience managing Windows AMIs in addition to Linux. • Familiarity with multi-region AMI distribution and replication. • Exposure to AWS Systems Manager (SSM) for automation and patching. • AWS Certifications (Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer, SysOps Administrator). Educational Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. • Relevant AWS or DevOps certifications preferred.