Sr. Optical Network Engineer, Inter-satellite Link Avionics
- US citizenship
How this pay compares
This posting states $159k–$215k a year. Open electrical engineer jobs in Washington post a median of $162k a year, the middle half $140k–$187k, across 79 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.
Electrical engineers in Washington: pay by town and employer
About the job
Amazon Leo is an initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. 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 an ambitious program that continues to push the state of the art in distributed systems and hardware design. You will serve as a technical leader responsible for the development of hardware and systems for optical communication between satellites and from space to ground.
In this senior role, you will take ownership of a specific subsystem, contribute to system-wide design guidance, and drive engineering excellence across the organization. ## 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 - Lead the design, prototyping, and characterization of hardware to support high-speed intersatellite communication links and space-to-ground optical links - Work with vendors to qualify commercial, off-the-shelf components and drive development of custom components where needed to achieve low-cost, light-weight, and reliable systems that meet performance requirements - Lead design verification and qualification testing efforts, setting standards for engineering excellence - Proactively improve consistency and integration between the team's optical systems and related systems owned by other teams - Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues in collaboration with stakeholders to deliver intersatellite and space-to-ground optical links - Analyze large volume data to identify gaps, risks, and opportunities to improve designs - Drive engineering best practices in Operational Excellence, Security, and Quality across the organization - Mentor and coach team members to improve technical knowledge and capabilities - Influence the team's technical and business strategy, making sound trade-offs between short-term technology needs and long-term business objectives - Build consensus when confronted with discordant views and align teams toward coherent architectural strategies A day in the life You will tackle challenging, novel situations every day and have the opportunity to work with multiple technical teams at Amazon in different locations.
You should be comfortable with a high degree of ambiguity and relish the idea of solving problems that haven't been solved at scale before. You will focus on ambiguous problem areas in existing or new network architecture, identifying and resolving areas where systems limit innovation of others.
Along the way, we guarantee that you will learn a lot, have fun, and make a positive impact on millions of people. ## Basic qualifications - 3+ years of automation scripting using Python, Bash, Shell and/or Perl experience - 8+ years of major internet routing protocols experience - 5+ years of working in a Linux/Unix environment experience - Experience solving complex technical problems autonomously and leading major technology implementations - Experience in high-speed characterization of devices, electrical probe stations, operation of high-speed and high-frequency test equipment, such as oscilloscopes, network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and high-speed oscilloscopes - Experience with lasers, detectors, modulators, modems, optical fiber and devices - Experience in developing test scripts for test automation, data acquisition, and data analysis - Experience with designing scalable, testable, maintainable, and efficient solutions - Experience leading internal design reviews and providing technical guidance to teams ## Preferred qualifications - Master's or PhD Degree in Physics, Electronics, Optical Engineering, or Communication Engineering - In-depth knowledge of development of high-frequency electronics - Proven track record as a technical leader with ability to take long-term view of systems and how they fit into organizational architecture - Exceptional diagnostic skills for operational and performance issues - Ability to lead interdisciplinary discussions between Hardware, Reliability, and Software teams to define and drive scope and clarity of work, and reach optimum system-level trade-offs - Ability to provide thought leadership and key input on new initiatives as well as on programs underway - Experience making technical trade-off decisions at product and system levels with understanding of business impact - Strong documentation and communication skills with ability to build consensus across teams - Knowledge of opto-electronics industry and component suppliers - Experience mentoring and developing technical talent - Track record of delivering inventive, secure, easily maintainable, scalable, and extensible solutions 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 - 159,100.00 - 215,300.00 USD annually
From Amazon Leo's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
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About Amazon Leo
Amazon's satellite internet constellation, formerly Project Kuiper: satellites, launches, ground stations and the terminals customers use.
Pay on its listings: 93.1% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Amazon's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
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