Skip to content

RF & Payloads

Optical Engineer, Amazon Leo - OISL

Amazon Leo logoAmazon Leo$136,000–$184,000/yrRedmond, Washington, USAFull-timePosted 2mo ago

This posting asks for U.S. citizenship.

About the role

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

You will join a multi-disciplinary team responsible for developing and testing the hardware that provides optical communications between satellites. You will support the manufacture and test of optical communications hardware, and contribute to the design of next-generation optical communications system.

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 development of manufacturing processes for optical communications components and subsystems

Prototype and test next generation optical designs

Prepare technical reports for stakeholder review

Work with vendors and the Leo OISL team to design and qualify optical components and assemblies

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. Along the way, we guarantee that you will learn a lot, have fun and make a positive impact on millions of people.

Basic qualifications

  • Experience with test plan development, building the necessary test bench infrastructure, developing tests and verifying the design
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electronics, or related discipline, or equivalent experience
  • Experience with lasers, detectors, modulators, optical fiber and devices, testing and characterization
  • Experience with fiber optics components and handling of optical fiber
  • Experience analyzing and troubleshooting PCBAs and opto-electronic communications systems
  • Experience in automated testing and optical system characterization
  • Strong foundation in optics and optical physics
  • Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills

Preferred qualifications

  • Experience participating in or leading technical collaborations and creating alignment across diverse groups (e.g., hardware engineering, software engineering, program management)
  • 3+ years of full product life cycle experience
  • Master's or PhD Degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electronics, or related discipline, or equivalent experience
  • Expertise in optical design
  • Experience in free space optical communications
  • Ability to provide thought leadership and key input on new initiatives as well as on programs underway
  • Ability to regularly engage with senior stake holders and influence across the organization
  • Knowledge and experience with the manufacture of precision optical components and systems

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 - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually

Copied from the listing Amazon Leo published, verified 31 Oct 2026.

About Amazon Leo

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

Redmond is Amazon's research and development site for its Leo (formerly Kuiper) satellites: 219,000 square feet, opened in 2020, able to build prototype and early satellites too. (Source: GeekWire)

Similar open roles

Experienced in RF, Communications & Payloads?

Space employers come to us looking for a particular skill, location or credential. Leave your details one time, at no cost, and we put you forward when a role matches, never without your yes.

Create my profile

Amazon Leo openings, sent to your inbox

Each week we send what Amazon Leo posted since the last email, with comparable openings at other space companies. No cost, and you can stop it with one click.

Hiring for Amazon Leo? Feature this role to get a marked Featured slot above the lists and the lead place in the weekly job email for 30 days. Pricing:$99 for a single role, or $299 to cover every role you have open. To see who else is hiring your disciplines and at what pay, read the monthly space hiring brief.