Amazon layoffs 2026: Tech and leadership roles face deep cuts as company trims layers across its Washington headquarters

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• Amazon to cut 2,198 corporate jobs in Washington state starting April 2026
• Seattle and Bellevue offices will see the largest share of layoffs
• Software development and engineering roles most affected by the restructuring

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Amazon has confirmed a fresh round of corporate job cuts in 2026, impacting 2,198 employees across Washington state, according to a newly released WARN filing. The layoffs form part of a broader global workforce reduction announced earlier, targeting around 16,000 corporate roles worldwide.

The Seattle region, which serves as Amazon’s main corporate base, will bear the largest share of the cuts, reflecting a restructuring of core product and engineering teams.

Roles most affected

The WARN filing shows software development positions account for the highest number of job losses. Engineering management, program management, and technical product roles are also significantly impacted.

More than half of the affected employees belong to Amazon’s product and engineering organisations. The remaining reductions span departments such as business intelligence, marketing, sales, infrastructure, quality assurance, human resources, and design.

A notable portion of the layoffs includes senior and principal-level staff, with several “Manager III” and “Senior Manager” positions eliminated, indicating a flattening of leadership layers alongside role reductions.

Where the cuts are concentrated

Over 1,400 of the layoffs are based in Seattle, with more than 600 employees affected in Bellevue, where Amazon has expanded office operations in recent years. Smaller numbers are spread across other facilities in Washington state.

The filing notes that employee separations are scheduled to begin on April 28, 2026, and continue through late June. However, workers who secure internal transfers before their separation dates will not be laid off.

Company’s explanation

In an internal memo to employees, Amazon’s senior leadership said the restructuring is aimed at reducing organisational layers, increasing ownership across teams, and removing internal bureaucracy.

The company also stated that while job cuts are underway, hiring will continue in select strategic areas considered essential to long-term growth.

A larger pattern of workforce reductions

The 2026 layoffs follow earlier cuts of 14,000 corporate employees in October 2025 and major reductions during 2022 and 2023. Combined, this represents the largest corporate downsizing period in Amazon’s history.

The latest round highlights how even core technology and management functions are being reshaped as the company recalibrates costs and operational structure in a slower global tech hiring environment.