Top Amazon exec Jeff Blackburn leaving in latest leadership shake-up

NASA releases jaw-dropping video — with help from AWS | SoundCommerce raises $15M | How to help GeekWire mark 10 years covering Seattle tech ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: Become a GeekWire member: [Support independent journalism and join today!]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES Amazon exec departs: Jeff Blackburn, who played a key behind-the-scenes role as one of Jeff Bezos' top lieutenants for more than two decades, is leaving Amazon as of today, following a year-long sabbatical, he wrote in a message to Amazon's senior leaders, posted to the company's intranet and obtained by GeekWire. “I’m not retiring and will have news on what’s next for me soon,” Blackburn wrote. The move fills out the picture of what has become a massive leadership transition at the tech giant, giving the next CEO, Andy Jassy, more room to reshape the senior leadership team. [Read the memos from Blackburn and Bezos.]( NASA releases jaw-dropping video — with help from AWS: For the first time ever, NASA has captured video of a rover landing on the surface of Mars, plus audio of the wind whistling past it after the landing — [and Amazon Web Services is playing a key role]( in making all those gigabytes of goodness available to the world. More than 23,000 images, amounting to 30 gigabytes of data, were gathered during the final minutes of Perseverance’s journey to Jezero Crater on Mars. In other AWS-related news: Lawyers for Seattle entrepreneur Amy Nelson and her husband [contend that her salary and earnings are being unfairly held by the government]( as part of the FBI’s seizure last year of more than $892,000 from their bank accounts. It’s the latest twist in a dispute over an alleged kickback scheme involving former AWS real estate managers, as [reported by GeekWire last week](. This just in: Public health officials announced that the COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa [has been detected in Washington's King County](. Seattle startup news: - SoundCommerce raises $15M: The company, [which helps online retailers organize data]( is the latest Seattle-area e-commerce logistics startup to attract investor dollars. - New startup from Madrona Venture Labs: Pendulum aims [to help combat misinformation]( and is a new company being incubated inside the Seattle startup studio. - First Mode to power giant zero-emission vehicle: The Seattle engineering company [is building a hydrogen fuel cell generator]( that will be retrofitted into a massive, 300-metric-ton haul truck. - VR without a computer: Pluto VR is launching a new streaming service [that could dramatically lower the cost of entry for virtual reality]( opening it up to a wider audience. Seeking memorabilia from the past decade in Seattle and Pacific NW tech: Take a close look at those closets and shelves! [GeekWire turns 10 in March]( and we're seeking donations of swag, gadgets, photos and other items to showcase in our new lobby display, designed by BCRA. Tell us what you’d like to donate at tips@geekwire.com, and if chosen, we’ll work with you to coordinate shipment or drop-off. Thanks for reading, and see all our latest headlines below. — GeekWire editor Todd Bishop, editor@geekwire.com, and GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [What the Biden Administration Means for Startups, a Lane Powell virtual event in partnership with GeekWire Studios]( Join us on February 25th at 11:00 a.m. as we discuss what the Biden administration means for startups. The main session includes a 45-minute panel discussion with Bobby Franklin, President & CEO of NVCA, and Heather Redman, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Flying Fish Partners. There will be optional breakout sessions immediately following the main session.  Pre-registration is required, space is limited. [Learn more.]( LATEST HEADLINES [South African COVID-19 variant found in Washington state]( [Internal memo: Top Amazon exec Jeff Blackburn officially leaving, hinting at new role elsewhere]( [‘Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2’ publisher removes Seattle’s Hardsuit Labs as developer]( [GeekWire is turning 10: Seeking memorabilia from the past decade of Seattle and Pacific NW tech]( [Pendulum, a new Madrona Venture Labs startup, aims to combat misinformation on video platforms]( SPONSORED: GEEK HOME OF THE DAY [Estate Escapes | Columbia River Villa]( [Pluto VR promises high-end VR without a computer via new PlutoSphere platform]( [SoundCommerce raises $15M to help online retailers ‘think and act like Amazon’]( [Riveter CEO and husband dispute FBI’s seizure of their bank accounts in AWS kickback investigation]( [NASA releases jaw-dropping video and audio from Mars, with an assist from AWS]( [First Mode building hydrogen fuel cell to power one of the biggest zero-emission vehicles on Earth]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [Substantial: Senior Engagement Manager]( - [GeekWire: GeekWire Technology and Business Reporter]( - [INRIX: Head of Product – Location Intelligence]( - [Proprio Vision: Lead Software Development Engineer – Test]( - [Logic20/20: Data Engineer – Spark]( - [Playful Software, Inc: Startup Sr Product Manager]( - [TrueBlue, Inc.: Director, Oracle Cloud Applicaations]( - [INRIX: Senior Product Marketing Manager]( - [INRIX: Content Strategist]( - [Icertis: Senior Director Demand Generation]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? 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