Skip to content

Launch & Ops

Mission Operations Systems Development Engineer, Optical Inter-Satellite Link

Amazon Leo logoAmazon Leo$129,200–$174,800/yrRedmond, Washington, USAFull timePosted todayStill open, checked every night
  • US citizenship

How this pay compares

This posting states $129k–$175k a year. Open mission operations engineer jobs in Washington post a median of $131k a year, the middle half $115k–$152k, across 10 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.

Mission and launch operations engineers in Washington: pay by town and employer

About the job

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

As a Mission Operations Engineer on the Optical Inter-Satellite Link (OISL) team, you will own and execute the overall operational success of these payload and bus functions at a systems level and coordinate between engineering teams across ground, network, and space systems to achieve it. Because of the scale of the mission, you will be focused on driving automation and operational excellence - identifying areas of improvement and initiating changes to improve the productivity of the fleet and optical network.

You will coordinate and prepare for each launch and on-orbit demonstrations, design and conduct operational rehearsals, and drive automation efforts with scalability in mind, ensuring that the constellation functions at peak performance with little-to-no manual intervention. You will develop concepts for OISL network operation for missions and experiments, participate in launch and early operations, develop and perform analysis on system data, and identify areas and mechanisms for further improvement.

The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, have strong verbal and written communication skills, strong organizational skills, be able to juggle multiple tasks at once, be able to work independently, and maintain professionalism under pressure. You should have knowledge in space system design, optical systems, and software engineering practices.

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, conduct, and participate in operational rehearsals
  • Coordinate and participate in all launch, early operation, and other critical activities
  • Develop concepts for OISL network operation for missions and experiments
  • Develop and perform analysis on system data, and identify areas and mechanisms for further improvement
  • Drive automation efforts with scalability in mind, ensuring that satellite and constellation function operate at peak performance with little-to-no manual intervention
  • Develop and execute integration vehicle test plans
  • Work closely with software, hardware and systems engineers

Basic qualifications

  • Experience in automating, deploying, and supporting large-scale infrastructure
  • Experience programming with at least one modern language such as Python, Ruby, Golang, Java, C++, C#, Rust
  • Experience with Linux/Unix
  • Experience with CI/CD pipelines build processes

Preferred qualifications

  • 3+ years of satellite communications ground systems and operations experience
  • Experience collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data to drive process and system improvements
  • Experience driving improvement programs in the operations, engineering and support fields
  • Knowledge of software development lifecycle, including design, development, test, build, deployment processes and timelines
  • 3+ years of experience in the Aerospace industry

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

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, WA, Redmond - 129,200.00 - 174,800.00 USD annually

From Amazon Leo's job posting, checked 10 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

Selected agencies hiring now

These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.

Sponsored

Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.

Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.

New launch and mission operations jobs in Washington, by email

One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.

About Amazon Leo

Amazon's satellite internet constellation, formerly Project Kuiper: satellites, launches, ground stations and the terminals customers use.

Pay on its listings: 93.2% of its open jobs state their pay

How it pays: Paid as an employee on Amazon's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).

More open jobs at Amazon Leo

More launch and mission operations jobs

Run launches or flown spacecraft?

One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.

Create my profile

Amazon Leo openings, sent to you weekly

Each week we send the newest postings from Amazon Leo's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.