Sr. System Development Engineer, Antenna System Validation
- US citizenship
How this pay compares
This posting states $151k–$205k a year. Open RF engineer jobs in Washington post a median of $168k a year, the middle half $160k–$203k, across 50 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.
RF and communications engineers in Washington: pay by town and employer
About the job
Amazon Leo is a long-term Amazon program to increase global broadband access through a constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO); providing low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Direct-to-Device (D2D) is Leo's initiative to enable standard smartphones and IoT devices to connect directly to satellites, filling coverage gaps in remote areas.
As a System Development Engineer, you will design and develop hardware, firmware, and/or software solutions for antenna systems supporting both our current production satellites and new programs including D2D and our next-generation satellite constellation.
You'll work closely with hardware, RF, and software teams to bring up, test, and ship systems that combine custom hardware, FPGAs, and embedded firmware and see your work in the lab or in orbit. ## 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 - Own design and implementation of hardware, firmware, software, or FPGA components for antenna systems - Collaborate with systems architects and cross-functional hardware, firmware, and software teams to define, implement, test, and release new antenna hardware and software capabilities - Support bring-up, characterization, and validation of antenna subsystems in the lab and on test hardware - Troubleshoot and resolve hardware, firmware, and software issues found during development, integration, or production testing - Contribute to design reviews and technical documentation for new hardware, firmware, and software A day in the life Most days, you're working with cross-functional teams talking through requirements with antenna and hardware engineers, sketching out designs, and writing documentation others will rely on.
Some days you're in the lab instead, hands on the hardware. ## About the team Our team validates payload phased arrays. The antennas we work with are packed with many processors and hundreds/thousands of individual elements working in sync. We test designs, find what breaks, and build the tools that make that possible. We partner closely with antenna, hardware, and firmware engineers.
We take pride in catching problems before launch since once it's in orbit, there's no fixing it by hand. ## Basic qualifications - 5+ years of programming with at least one modern language such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Golang, PowerShell, Ruby experience - Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or related field - Experience with digital design, verification, or embedded firmware development (e.g., SystemVerilog/VHDL RTL, UVM testbenches, or microcontroller firmware) - Experience using common electronics test equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, function generators, etc.) ## Preferred qualifications - Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field - Experience with FPGA design and implementation using SystemVerilog or VHDL - Experience with DSP or multi-rate signal processing design - Experience with phased array antennas or other complex RF systems - Experience with test automation using Python and lab instrument control (e.g., PyVISA) 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 - 151,200.00 - 204,600.00 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.
Selected agencies hiring now
Contract Professionals Inc (CPI)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense staffing firm in Waterford, Michigan, placing engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanics, welders and CNC machinists.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
Moseley Technical ServicesEngineering and technical staffing agency
Engineering and technical staffing firm in Huntsville, Alabama, placing engineers and A&P, sheet metal, CNC and quality technicians.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
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 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 RF, communications and payload jobs in space 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: 93.1% 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).
More open jobs at Amazon Leo
- Software Development Engineer, Amazon Leo, Embedded Platform$165,200–$223,600/yr
- Data Scientist, Phased Array Antenna System Validation$136,000–$184,000/yr
- Electrical Engineer, Amazon Leo Government, Amazon Leo Government$126,300–$164,800/yr
- Executive Assistant, Amazon Leo Global B2B$82,700–$129,800/yr
- Global Category Sourcing Manager - PCBA
- Mechanical Engineer, Electronics Packaging, Avionics Mechanical
More RF, communications and payload jobs in space
- Staff Digital Signal Processing Engineer$145,000–$185,000/yr
- Intermediate Applied Mathematician--Communications, Navigation, and Timing Engineering$103,600–$129,500/yr
- Embedded Software Developer, Network/Payload Intern (Winter 2027)$29.00/hr
- RF Design Engineer III$100,000–$130,000/yr
- RF Test Engineer
- Principal Electro-Optics Engineer – Optical Inter-Satellite Link$173,466–$242,851/yr
An RF or communications engineer?
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.
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.