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

Amazon is hiring an Embedded Software Development Engineer, Amazon Leo Optical Inter-Satellite Link . It pays $144k-$194k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Level.

AI in this 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.

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 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 won't just write code — you'll see it fly. Your software will control and monitor high-speed laser communications between satellites moving at orbital velocities, and you'll 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, you'll 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.

Basic qualifications

- 3+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 2+ years of non-internship design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field
- Experience in Linux and Networking protocols

Preferred qualifications

- 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 Company’s 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 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, CA, NORTHRIDGE - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually
USA, CA, Sunnyvale - 165,200.00 - 223,600.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Redmond - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Embedded Software Development Engineer, Amazon Leo Optical Inter-Satellite Link at Amazon rates 33 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Open the description and count.

Key facts

Embedded Software Development Engineer, Amazon Leo Optical Inter-Satellite Link is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $144k-$194k a year.
The role is based in US, WA, Redmond.
The job was posted on October 16, 2026.
Seniority: mid.
Applications are handled by Amazon. Apply on Amazon