Software Development Engineer, Amazon Leo Optical Inter-Satellite Link

Amazon; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Kuiper Manufacturing Enterprises LLC is expanding its Optical Inter-Satellite Link team in California to design, develop, and maintain embedded flight software for high-speed laser communications between satellites. You will contribute to the end-to-end lifecycle, from requirements to production deployment, in a highly collaborative, space-grade environment.

We seek engineers with strong C/C++ embedded experience, real-time systems, and a track record in designing robust, fault-tolerant

Qualifications

• 3+ years of non-internship software development experience.
• 3+ years of non-internship design or architecture experience for systems.
• Experience in embedded development in C/C++.
• Experience writing low level drivers.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize reliable flight software for optical inter-satellite links, including real-time control and AI/ML-driven decisions.
• Architect and implement fault-tolerant software systems across a satellite constellation.
• Build and maintain test, validation, and simulation infrastructure including hardware-in-the-loop setups.
• Own full lifecycle of embedded software delivery from requirements to maintenance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams spanning hardware, optics, and operations engineers.
• Drive OTA updates and safe delivery of new capabilities to satellites.
• Lead board bring-up and integration, including BSP components and peripheral validation.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

Low-level drivers

System architecture

RTOS/real-time

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

QEMU/KVM

ARM-based SoCs

FPGA-related software

Job description

Description

Amazon LEO is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Its mission is to bring fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Amazon LEO will help close the digital divide by delivering fast, affordable broadband to a wide range of customers, including consumers, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity.

Amazon LEO is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Its mission is to bring fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Amazon LEO will help close the digital divide by delivering fast, affordable broadband to a wide range of customers, including consumers, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity.

Innovation is part of our DNA! Our goal is to be Earth’s most customer centric company, and we are just getting started. We need people who want to join this ambitious program that continues to push the state of the art in distributed systems and software design. Come work at Amazon!

Export Control Requirement: Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Key job responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize highly reliable flight software for optical inter-satellite link systems, spanning low-level device drivers and real-time control loops to high-level autonomous behaviors, fault management, and AI/ML-driven decision-making that target embedded linux and RTOS (Real Time Operating System)
• Architect and implement fault-tolerant, redundant software systems that keep optical links alive across a constellation of satellites, including health monitoring and autonomous recovery without ground intervention
• Build and maintain robust test, validation, and simulation infrastructure, from hardware-in-the-loop testbeds and software-in-the-loop virtualizations to automated regression suites
• Own the full lifecycle of embedded software delivery - from requirements decomposition and architecture design through implementation, code review, integration, deployment, and long-term maintenance of software running on satellites in orbit
• Collaborate deeply with cross-functional teams spanning hardware, optics, systems, communications, and operations engineers to design, integrate, test, and deploy high-speed optical communication systems that push the boundaries of space-based networking
• Drive continuous improvement of deployment and over-the-air (OTA) update processes, ensuring new capabilities and fixes can be safely and reliably delivered to hundreds of satellites on orbit with minimal operational risk
• Partner with software and hardware teams to lead board bring-up and integration efforts, including developing and debugging low-level BSP (Board Support Package) components, validating peripheral connectivity (Ethernet, PCIe, SPI, I2C, flash devices), and ensuring seamless hardware-software integration from prototype through production

A day in the life

A day in the life As a Software Engineer on the Optical Inter-Satellite Link team, you won't just write code - you'll see it fly. Your software will control and monitor high-speed laser communications between satellites moving at orbital velocities, and you'll be there for every stage of the journey: from early design and on-the-ground verifications to watching your code commission an optical link for the first time in orbit.

About The Team

You will join a multi-disciplinary team of top-notch engineers whose work spans an unusually wide aperture: embedded flight software running on satellites in orbit, cloud-based systems powering mission and network operations, automation frameworks that keep a growing constellation healthy, and AI-driven capabilities that make our optical links smarter with every orbit. We collaborate closely with optical, electrical, firmware, opto-mechanical, and operations teams — and with partner organizations including Mission Operations and Optical Network Operations — to deliver one of the most advanced optical communication systems ever built.

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
• 3+ years of non-internship design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
• Experience in embedded development in C/C++
• Experience writing low level drivers
• Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Linux system virtualization (QEMU/KVM)
• Experience developing embedded software for space systems, including familiarity with optical communication systems, laser terminals, or high-speed serial interfaces
• Experience with ARM-based SoCs
• Experience with FPGA-adjacent software development, including register-level interfaces, DMA engines, or hardware/software co-design

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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.

USA, CA, NORTHRIDGE - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually

USA, WA, Redmond - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually

Company

Amazon Kuiper Manufacturing Enterprises LLC

Job ID: A10500260