Sr. Embedded Software Engineer, Amazon Leo OISL Star Tracker

Amazon is hiring a Sr. Embedded Software Engineer, Amazon Leo OISL Star Tracker. It pays $168k-$227k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

Level rates this software engineer role Works on AI ●●●○: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
The listed pay starts close to the typical software engineer posting on Level.
Tools and skills the posting cites include Linux, embedded software and real time control.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Design and develop embedded flight software with AI/ML decision-making capabilities for satellite star trackers.

Linux

embedded-softwarereal-time-controlfault-tolerancesatellite-systems

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.

We are seeking a Senior Software Development Engineer to help drive design and implementation of software systems that control, monitor, and manage Star Tracker flight hardware, including real-time device control, remote management, Linux integration, software build systems and release validation testing.

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, develop, and optimize highly reliable flight software for Star Tracker flight systems, spanning low-level device drivers and real-time control loops to high-level autonomous behaviors, fault management, and AI/ML-driven decision-making that target Linux environments

* Architect and implement fault-tolerant, redundant software systems that keep systems operational with continuous uptime across a constellation of satellites, including health monitoring and autonomous recovery without ground intervention

* Build and maintain robust test, validation, and simulation infrastructure, from hardware-in-the-loop testbeds and software-in-the-loop virtualizations to automated regression suites

* Own the full lifecycle of embedded software delivery - from requirements decomposition and architecture design through implementation, code review, integration, deployment, and long-term maintenance of software running on satellites in orbit

* Collaborate deeply with cross-functional teams spanning hardware, systems, communications, manufacturing and operations engineers to design, integrate, test, and deploy high-speed optical communication systems that push the boundaries of space-based networking

* Develop and refine autonomous operational behaviors that enable satellites to independently recover and adapt to changing conditions, and respond to anomalies

* Drive continuous improvement of deployment and over-the-air (OTA) update processes, ensuring new capabilities and fixes can be safely and reliably delivered to hundreds of satellites on orbit with minimal operational risk

A day in the life
As a Senior Software Engineer on the OISL Star Tracker team, you won't just write code - you'll see it in action. Your software will control and monitor critical sensor hardware operating on hundreds of real satellites in orbit, and you'll be there for every stage of the journey: from early design and on-the-ground verification to watching your code operate in-orbit and see the stars.

About the team
You will join a multi-disciplinary team of top-notch engineers whose work spans an unusually wide aperture: 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 devices smarter with every orbit. We collaborate closely with optical, electrical, firmware, manufacturing, and operations teams — and with partner organizations including Mission Operations — to deliver one of the most advanced optical communication systems ever built.

We are looking for a senior software engineer who combines deep technical and analytical capabilities with a demonstrated ability to get the right things done quickly and effectively, and someone who thrives at the intersection of hardware and software, space and ground, autonomy and operations.

Basic qualifications

- 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
- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
- Experience in embedded development in C/C++

Preferred qualifications

- 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
- Experience developing in a linux embedded environment

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 - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Redmond - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Sr. Embedded Software Engineer, Amazon Leo OISL Star Tracker at Amazon rates 65 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.

●●●● 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. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Sr. Embedded Software Engineer, Amazon Leo OISL Star Tracker is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 3 of 4: Works on AI.
The listed salary is $168k-$227k a year.
The role is based in US, CA, Northridge.
The job was posted on September 16, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by Amazon. Apply on Amazon

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Embedded SoftwareReal Time ControlFault ToleranceSatellite SystemsLinux

Also common in software engineer jobs at this level

Python AWS LLM Java Kubernetes AI agents

Pay

This job starts at: $168k
Typical software engineer job: $167k

This posting starts close to the typical software engineer job. See software engineer jobs

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where embedded software was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where real time control was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where fault tolerance was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where satellite systems was part of your work. What did you do?
Walk me through how you've used Linux in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Embedded Software, Real Time Control, Fault Tolerance, Satellite Systems, and Linux. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.

Get your CV reviewed before you apply

Send your CV and the role you want next. Your review arrives by email within 3 days.

Get a free CV review Check your resume with the ATS resume checker