GNC System Development Engineer, Prime Air

Amazon; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 129,200 - 174,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Amazon is seeking a Systems Development Engineer II in Seattle to join Prime Air's GNC team. This role emphasizes developing software requirements and verification evidence necessary for DO-178C compliance. Candidates should have strong experience in C/C++ or Python, a background in safety-critical environments, and familiarity with relevant standards.

The position encompasses both independent work and collaboration with senior engineers, emphasizing end-to-end ownership of work products.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of engineering experience with at least 3 years in software development.
• 2+ years developing software requirements or architecture documentation.
• Familiarity with DO-178C, IEC 61508, or ISO 26262.

Responsibilities

• Develop high- and low-level software requirements for GNC software components.
• Author software architecture documents for GNC modules.
• Develop verification evidence and software tools to support simulation and testing.

Skills

Software development in C, C++, or Python

Experience with CI/CD pipelines

Troubleshooting and debugging technical systems

Experience communicating with technical teams

Software tools development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related fields

Tools

Python

MATLAB

C/C++

Job description

Amazon Prime Air – Systems Development Engineer II (DO-178C Requirements and Verification Engineer)

Amazon Prime Air is seeking a Systems Development Engineer II to join the Drone Guidance, Navigation & Controls (GNC) team as a DO-178C Requirements and Verification Engineer. In this role, you will be a key individual contributor responsible for developing the software requirements, architecture documentation, interface control documents, and verification evidence that form the backbone of Prime Air's DO-178C‑compliant software lifecycle. You will also develop software tools to support simulation, test automation, and analysis, bridging the gap between requirements engineering and the software development team. You operate with moderate autonomy, own your assigned work products end-to-end, and collaborate closely with the tech lead and senior engineers to ensure your artifacts meet DO-178C objectives and certification standards.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Work on guidance, navigation, and control algorithm software.
• Develop high‑ and low‑level software requirements, capturing functional, performance, and safety requirements for GNC software components in compliance with DO-178C planning and development objectives.
• Author software architecture documents describing the structure, components, interfaces, and data flows of GNC software modules, ensuring architectural decisions are traceable to requirements.
• Develop Interface Control Documents (ICDs) defining software‑to‑software and software‑to‑hardware interfaces for GNC components, coordinating with hardware and systems engineering teams to ensure consistency.
• Develop verification evidence including test cases and test procedures for requirements‑based testing ensuring coverage of all DO-178C DAL C verification objectives.
• Develop software tools in Python, MATLAB, or C/C++ to support simulation, test automation, data analysis, and verification reporting — accelerating the team's ability to demonstrate DO-178C compliance.

Basic Qualifications

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and build processes.
• Bachelor's degree or above in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related fields.
• Experience in gathering test requirements to create detailed test plans and defining quality metrics to measure product quality.
• Experience troubleshooting and debugging technical systems, or experience in software development and any version control tools.
• Experience communicating with users, other technical teams, and management to collect requirements, describe software product features, and technical designs.
• 5+ years of engineering experience, with at least 3 years of hands‑on software development experience in C, C++, or Python in embedded or real‑time systems.
• 2+ years of direct experience developing software requirements (HLRs and/or LLRs) or software architecture documentation in a structured, safety‑critical, or regulated engineering environment.
• Experience developing software tools or scripts (Python, MATLAB, C/C++) to support simulation, test automation, or data analysis.
• Familiarity with DO‑178C (or DO‑178B), IEC 61508, ISO 26262, or equivalent safety‑critical software standards, including at least 1 year of direct exposure to structured lifecycle processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with distributed systems at scale.
• Master's degree or above in engineering or equivalent.
• Experience with hardware/software integration and real‑time systems.
• Direct experience developing DO‑178C lifecycle artifacts (HLRs, LLRs, test cases, test procedures, ICDs) at DAL C or higher.
• Experience developing Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for software‑to‑hardware or software‑to‑software interfaces in an aerospace or autonomous systems context.
• Experience with model‑based design tools (Simulink/Stateflow) for requirements capture or simulation.
• Experience with autonomous systems, robotics, GNC algorithms, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

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 https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign‑on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

Location: USA, WA, Seattle – $129,200.00 – $174,800.00 USD annually