Sr Manager, Software, Payload Sofware

Amazon; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Job summary

Amazon Leo seeks a Sr Manager to lead development of satellite payload systems, ensuring embedded and networking software meets reliability, security, and performance targets from manufacturing through customer operations.

You will architect software on the satellite, manage embedded and networking stacks, and lead comprehensive system testing for launch readiness and on‑orbit operations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering experience.
• 7+ years of engineering team management experience.
• 10+ years of planning, designing, developing and delivering consumer software experience.
• Experience partnering with product or program management teams.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent programs, projects and development teams in an Agile environment.
• Proven track record building and scaling engineering organizations (40+ people).
• At least 7+ years of leading embedded and networking teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement end‑to‑end network software architecture for satellite payload systems.
• Architect Linux networking solutions for satellite systems.
• Develop and oversee software for FPGA teams used in spacecraft systems and lay the platform for Gen 2 operations.
• Lead embedded software development for satellite payload and ground systems.
• Own systems test strategy and execution for satellite systems, including Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) simulation frameworks.
• Lead on‑orbit software testing and validation for operational satellites.
• Establish multi‑test environments and continuous test/deployment pipelines.
• Strong technical understanding of embedded network software, switching, routing and wireless protocols.

Skills

Embedded software

Networking software

Leadership

Linux networking

HIL testing

Tools

HIL simulation

Linux

Job description

Amazon Leo is Amazon's low Earth orbit satellite network. Our mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet connectivity to customers beyond the reach of existing networks. From individual households to schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies, Amazon Leo will serve people and organizations operating in locations without reliable connectivity.

The Sr Manager role will lead the development for Amazon Leo's satellite payload systems, ensuring our payload embedded and networking software meets reliability, security, and performance targets from manufacturing through customer operations.

You will architect the software that sits on the satellite, manage the end-to-end embedded and networking stack to bring up the satellite, ground systems, customer terminals, and lead comprehensive system testing to ensure spacecraft readiness for launch and on-orbit operations.

This is a highly technical leadership role requiring hands‑on embedded and networking software architecture expertise combined with the ability to build and scale high‑performing engineering organizations. You will work in constrained hardware environments where computing resources (processing power, memory, power consumption) are severely limited. A satellite has 600+ unique processors – it's like having its own compact data center in space – requiring sophisticated embedded software solutions to coordinate this complexity.

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

As a leader, you will anticipate bottlenecks, provide escalation management, anticipate and make tradeoffs, and balance the business needs versus technical constraints.

Networking Software Architecture & Development

• Define and implement end‑to‑end network software architecture for satellite payload systems
• Architect Linux networking solutions for satellite systems
• Develop and oversee software for FPGA teams used in spacecraft systems and lay the platform for Gen 2 operations
• Lead embedded software development for satellite payload and ground systems
• Own systems test strategy and execution for satellite systems, including Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) simulation frameworks
• Lead on‑orbit software testing and validation for operational satellites
• Establish multi‑test environments and continuous test/deployment pipelines
• Strong technical understanding of embedded network software, switching, routing and wireless protocols

Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide close partnership with Hardware Engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle — from component design through integration and launch
• Create documentation for worldwide regulatory bodies
• Work closely with research teams to evaluate and simulate system‑level performance
• Provide technical leadership while meeting project schedules
• Drive operational excellence and optimize system performance

Team Building & Organizational Leadership

• Scale the network software engineering organization from current state to production needs into Gen 2
• Hire and develop exceptional embedded and network software engineers and leaders
• Foster a culture of innovation, speed, and technical excellence consistent with a "new space" mindset
• Develop talent pipeline for specialized embedded and network systems expertise

Basic Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering experience
• 7+ years of engineering team management experience
• 10+ years of planning, designing, developing and delivering consumer software experience
• Experience partnering with product or program management teams
• Experience managing multiple concurrent programs, projects and development teams in an Agile environment
• Proven track record building and scaling engineering organizations (40+ people)
• At least 7+ years of leading embedded and networking teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience partnering with product and program management teams
• Experience designing and developing large scale, high‑traffic applications

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.