Amazon layoffs 2026 hit tech, leadership roles amid restructuring at Washington HQ

Amazon has begun another round of corporate layoffs in 2026, cutting 2,198 jobs in Washington state, according to a new WARN filing.

The reductions are part of a previously announced global workforce cut that is expected to impact around 16,000 corporate employees worldwide. The Seattle region, Amazon’s largest corporate hub, accounts for the majority of the job losses, highlighting a major restructuring across the company’s product and engineering operations.

Roles impacted

Software development roles have been hit the hardest, the filing shows. Engineering management, programme management and technical product positions have also seen significant reductions. More than half of the affected employees are from Amazon’s product and engineering divisions, with additional cuts across business intelligence, marketing, sales, infrastructure, quality assurance, human resources and design teams.

Senior leadership has not been spared. Several Manager III, Senior Manager and principal-level roles have been eliminated, signalling a push to flatten management layers alongside reducing overall headcount.

Locations

Over 1,400 layoffs are based in Seattle, while more than 600 roles have been cut in Bellevue. The remaining reductions are spread across other Amazon sites in Washington state. Separations will begin on April 28, 2026, and continue through late June, according to the notice. Employees who secure internal transfers before their separation dates will not be laid off.

Why Amazon is cutting jobs

In an internal note to employees, Amazon said the layoffs are aimed at simplifying the organisation, reducing internal complexity and increasing team ownership. The company added that hiring will continue in select priority areas linked to its long-term strategy.

Part of ongoing downsizing

The latest cuts follow the elimination of 14,000 corporate roles in October 2025, adding to widespread layoffs in 2022 and 2023. Together, these moves mark the longest and most significant corporate workforce reduction in Amazon’s history.

The new round underscores how even core technology and leadership roles are being reshaped as Amazon adjusts its cost structure amid a cautious global tech climate.