Sr Manager, Satellite Payload Systems

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
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