Senior RF Systems & Test Lead - Satellite Verification

Amazon Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 208,000 - 282,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Leo is seeking a Senior Manager to lead RF System Integration and Test, overseeing Ka-band and NTN Direct to Device verification across generations. You will build and run a multi-site organization, define strategy, and own test infrastructure and monitoring systems critical to launch readiness.

You will mentor managers and engineers, drive cross-team collaboration with Systems, PHY/MAC, and PIT groups, and manage headcount and capital planning for the function.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics or physics.
• 5+ years of engineering management experience, including experience managing engineering managers.
• 10+ years in RF, wireless or satellite communications engineering, with significant depth in test, integration or verification.
• Experience owning verification for a commercial wireless or satellite communications product through launch or general availability.
• Experience owning headcount and capital planning for an engineering function.

Responsibilities

• Own multi-year RF and RAN-level verification strategy spanning multiple generations of Ka-band broadband and 3GPP NTN Direct to Device.
• Define what constitutes sufficient evidence of radio performance for launch readiness, and hold that line under based on lab and outdoor tests.
• Own end-to-end RF verification of each new generation as hardware and software arrive, including line-replaceable unit acceptance testing that de-risks program timelines.
• For Ka-band: own performance and conformance verification of customer terminal and gateway links, production and general-availability readiness, throughput and capacity investigation, over-the-air debug and field validation.
• For NTN Direct to Device: own RF conformance of the payload, radio resource management verification, radio-access-to-core end-to-end testing, user equipment acceptance testing, and the progression from laboratory into over-the-air trials.
• Direct test infrastructure definition for future capability — new spectrum bands, and integrated communication and sensing
• Own RF characterization across both product lines: EIRP, beam pattern and pointing accuracy, beam steering, array calibration, spectral conformance, and transmit and receive array performance
• Own RAN-level and radio resource management verification: scheduling, beam hopping, admission control, power control, link adaptation, and behavior under load and across capacity modes
• Own verification of the RAN system-level use cases that determine whether the service actually works, including initial network entry, handover and mobility, radio link monitoring and recovery, session continuity, and GNSS-less operation
• Ensure these campaigns are executed across both the indoor laboratory and the mobile test laboratory, so that behavior proven in a controlled environment is confirmed under real-world motion, geometry and propagation
• Own the roadmap, investment case and delivery of a portfolio of purpose-built test and monitoring systems, developed in house as custom hardware and software rather than assembled from commercial instrumentation
• Own the ground-based monitoring network that provides automated, real-time visibility of phased array transmit and receive health and signal quality on live payloads.
• Own the mobile test laboratory development and opeation — vehicle-based platforms that take RF and RAN-level verification into the field
• Own flight-representative channel-emulation test venues, which serve as reference environments for payload qualification across the organisation
• Decide build versus buy across the portfolio, and own the consequences of those decisions
• Lead and develop a team of engineering managers, and extend the organizational structure as the scope scales
• Own hiring strategy for a specialized and competitive talent pool spanning RF, antenna, protocol and test-systems engineering and software / automation development
• Lead a multi-site organization, including laboratory build-out and operational readiness across facilities
• Develop senior technical and managerial talent, and build bench strength ahead of need
• Own annual and multi-year planning for the function: headcount, operating expense, and capital
• Own the investment case for test infrastructure and laboratory build-out, and defend it in planning forums
• Manage significant test capital and vendor commitments, including silicon and protocol stack partners
• Partner with systems and PHY/MAC design teams on what must be verified and how, with payload development on designing for testability, and with the Payload Integration and Test (PIT) team for payload qualification and flight validation organization whose gates consume your evidence
• Represent verification status, risk and readiness to program and executive leadership
• Lead technical engagement with silicon, protocol stack and test equipment partners at commitment level

Skills

Engineering management

RF/Wireless

Satellite communications

Verification

Headcount planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics or physics

Master's degree or higher in a relevant field

Job description

Amazon Leo is seeking a Senior Manager to lead RF System Integration and Test, overseeing Ka-band and NTN Direct to Device verification across generations. You will build and run a multi-site organization, define strategy, and own test infrastructure and monitoring systems critical to launch readiness.

You will mentor managers and engineers, drive cross-team collaboration with Systems, PHY/MAC, and PIT groups, and manage headcount and capital planning for the function.