Sr. System Development Engineer, Antenna System Validation

Amazon is hiring a Sr. System Development Engineer, Antenna System Validation. It pays $151k-$205k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

Little AI ●○○○ is how Level rates this role: aI is not part of the work.
The posting mentions C, Python and FPGA among its tools and skills.
Level classes it as a senior role.
Amazon has 20,000+ other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

System Development Engineer to design, test, and validate antenna systems and hardware for satellite communication constellations.

CPythonFPGA

hardware-validationantenna-systemsfirmwarerf-testing

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

How we rate this

Sr. System Development Engineer, Antenna System Validation at Amazon rates 0 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. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Sr. System Development Engineer, Antenna System Validation is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $151k-$205k a year.
The role is based in US, WA, Redmond.
The job was posted on July 28, 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

Hardware ValidationAntenna SystemsFirmwareRf TestingCPythonFPGA

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where hardware validation was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where antenna systems was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where firmware was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where rf testing was part of your work. What did you do?
Walk me through how you've used C in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Hardware Validation, Antenna Systems, Firmware, Rf Testing, and C. 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.

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