Senior Software Development Engineer, Amazon Leo Optical Inter-Satellite Link

Amazon LEO is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Its mission is to bring fast affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Amazon LEO will help close the digital divide by delivering reliable high-speed connectivity to a wide range of customers including consumers businesses government agencies and other organizations operating in places without dependable internet access.

Innovation is part of our DNA! Our goal is to be Earths most customer-centric company and we are just getting started. We need people who want to join this ambitious program that continues to push the state of the art in distributed systems and software design. Come work at Amazon!

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 implement and enhance the switch-management software from translating routes received from a centralized SDN controller into forwarding-table entries to building MAC-learning and loop-prevention logic for a redundant switch topology that enables deterministic low-latency packet forwarding across the constellation

Design and optimize the networking layers of flight software for optical inter-satellite link systems spanning network device drivers and protocol implementations on embedded Linux

Collaborate with cross-functional teams including hardware optics systems communications and operations engineers to integrate test and deploy high-speed optical communication systems and the networking stack that underpins space-based connectivity

Build and extend operational tooling for network diagnostics and observability including routing-table inspection packet capture and analysis structured logging and metrics emission that enables rapid fault isolation and performance trending across the satellite mesh












A day in the life
As a Software Engineer on the Optical Inter-Satellite Link team you wont just write code youll see it fly. Your software will control and monitor high-speed laser communications between satellites moving at orbital velocities and youll be there for every stage of the journey: from early design and ground-based verification to watching your code commission an optical link for the first time in orbit. On the networking side youll design and debug the switching fabric that routes traffic across the constellation ensuring packets traverse inter-satellite links with minimal latency and maximum reliability.






About the team
You will join a multi-disciplinary team of exceptional engineers whose work spans an unusually broad scope: embedded flight software running on satellites in orbit cloud-based systems powering mission and network operations automation frameworks that keep a growing constellation healthy and AI-driven capabilities that make our optical links smarter with every orbit. We collaborate closely with optical electrical firmware opto-mechanical and operations teams and with partner organizations including Mission Operations and Optical Network Operations to deliver one of the most advanced optical communication systems ever built.










- 5 years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 5 years of programming with at least one software programming language experience
- 5 years of leading design or architecture (design patterns reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- 5 years of full software development life cycle including coding standards code reviews source control management build processes testing and operations experience
- Experience as a mentor tech lead or leading an engineering team
- Experience with a switch SDK and L2 networking protocols including RSTP BFD MPLS and ARP
- Experience developing embedded and low-level networking software systems in C/C or Rust

- Experience developing embedded software for space systems including optical communication systems laser terminals or high-speed serial interfaces
- Experience with ARM-based SoCs

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

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees supervisors and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees supervisors and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal state and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct adverse and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies exercise sound judgment effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism and safeguard business operations and the Companys reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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 for more information. If the country/region youre applying in isnt 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 CA NORTHRIDGE - 168100.00 - 227400.00 USD annually
USA CA Sunnyvale - 193300.00 - 261500.00 USD annually
USA WA Redmond - 168100.00 - 227400.00 USD annually