Senior Satellite RF Engineer — Payloads & Links

Amazon; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 186,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Leo seeks a Sr RF engineer to design, analyze, and optimize RF systems for satellite communication payloads and ground systems. You will work across teams to define RF requirements, develop models, and validate hardware through rigorous testing.

Key tasks include RF subsystem development, link-budget analyses across multiple bands, and hands-on antenna design with arrays and reflector systems. A strong background in EM theory and RF PCB layout is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in developing functional specifications, design verification plans and functional test procedures.
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or equivalent.
• 7+ years of wireless communications systems and implementation experience.
• Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test RF subsystems for satellite communication payloads, including transponders, amplifiers, filters, and antenna feed networks.
• Perform RF link budget analysis for uplink, downlink, and inter-satellite links across multiple frequency bands (L, S, C, X, Ku, Ka, V).
• Develop and validate RF simulation models using tools such as HFSS, CST, ADS, or equivalent.
• Design and characterize antenna systems including phased arrays, reflector antennas, and feed assemblies.
• Strong understanding of transmission line theory, Smith Chart techniques, and impedance matching.
• Design passive microwave structures including couplers, dividers, transitions (waveguide-to-microstrip, coax-to-stripline), and integrated filtering.
• Experience with RF PCB layout including controlled impedance routing, via transitions, grounding strategies, and EM isolation.
• Familiarity with RF component design: LNAs, HPAs (TWTAs/SSPAs), mixers, filters, and multiplexers.
• Develop and support integration and test activities for RF hardware, including environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, EMC).
• Collaborate with systems engineers to define RF performance requirements and interface specifications.
• Experience with RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, power meters).
• Knowledge of modulation schemes (QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, DVB-S2/S2X) and multiple access techniques (FDMA, TDMA, CDMA).
• Experience with antenna design and characterization.

Skills

RF design

Electromagnetic theory

RF link budgets

Antenna systems

HFSS/CST/ADS

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or equivalent

Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or equivalent

Tools

HFSS

CST

ADS

Spectrum analyzer

Network analyzer

Job description

Amazon Leo seeks a Sr RF engineer to design, analyze, and optimize RF systems for satellite communication payloads and ground systems. You will work across teams to define RF requirements, develop models, and validate hardware through rigorous testing.

Key tasks include RF subsystem development, link-budget analyses across multiple bands, and hands-on antenna design with arrays and reflector systems. A strong background in EM theory and RF PCB layout is essential.