Controls Engineer, Amazon Leo Optical Inter-Satellite Link

Description

Amazon LEO is an initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.

We are looking for a PAT Engineer to assist in the development, testing, and validation of pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) systems for free-space optical links across the Amazon LEO satellite constellation. This role blends electrical engineering, opto-mechatronics, and controls knowledge to support the PAT team across FPGA verification, hardware integration and testing, and model-based design. You will work closely with senior PAT engineers to execute test campaigns, maintain verification infrastructure, and help bridge the gap between algorithm models and hardware implementations.

This is an on-site role. The position sits within the OISL Electrical Engineering team, with workload focused on PAT/controls activities directed by the senior PAT engineer and also supporting the EE team on production RCAs, trade studies, and board-level design and bring-up. The split is flexible based on program phase and candidate strengths.

Day to day, you will work alongside senior PAT engineers and EE team members, contributing across multiple workstreams. A controls-focused background is ideal, with supporting knowledge in electrical engineering, mechanical systems, optics, or aerospace. The role requires comfort moving between flight data analysis, simulation, test infrastructure, and hardware debug depending on program needs. Flexible hours may be needed during test campaigns, and occasional travel to integration/testing facilities is required.

Over time, there is opportunity to grow ownership of specific PAT subsystems and take on more independent technical leadership within the PAT and EE domains.

Key job responsibilities

Flight Data Analysis & Simulation Correlation

Analyze flight telemetry data and compare against simulation predictions — identify discrepancies, characterize on-orbit behavior, and support anomaly investigations
Run and maintain simulation environments to reproduce flight scenarios and validate model fidelity against observed data
Help narrow down root causes by correlating flight data trends with known model behaviors and hardware characteristics

Production Failure Support & RCA

Support production and on-orbit failure investigations — review data, identify patterns, and help narrow down failure modes
Assist with electrical RCAs and help debug board-level issues
Contribute to failure analysis reports and corrective action documentation
Support production ramp activities requiring EE analysis and hardware troubleshooting

FPGA Verification & Test Vector Development

Develop and maintain test vectors to verify PAT FPGA implementations against Simulink reference models
Run bit-accurate simulations, compare outputs, and flag discrepancies between model and FPGA behavior
Work with existing models of PAT control loops and state machines — run simulations, generate test cases, and validate behavior
Support model-in-the-loop (MIL), software-in-the-loop (SIL), and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) verification activities

Electrical Engineering Support

Contribute to trade studies for data converter selection and signal chain architecture
Support board-level testing, characterization, and troubleshooting for analog and mixed-signal circuits
Assist with electrical design reviews
Support production ramps and RCAs from an electrical and controls perspective

Documentation & Configuration Management

Document test procedures, results, RCA findings, and discrepancy investigations clearly
Help maintain version-controlled models, scripts, and test artifacts
Contribute to test reports, review materials, and configuration management records

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.

Basic Qualifications

BS degree in electrical engineering or equivalent
Professional experience in a hardware-adjacent controls, test, or systems engineering role
MATLAB/Simulink proficiency — comfortable running models, interpreting results, building test cases, and debugging issues
Experience analyzing test or flight data to identify trends, anomalies, and correlations
Experience with reading schematics and understanding digital/analog signal interfaces
Experience with lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, signal generators, spectrum analyzers)
Experience with control system fundamentals — feedback loops, transfer functions, stability concepts
Experience with fixed-point concepts — word length, fraction length, overflow, quantization error
Experience with version control (Git)
Experience with working across disciplines — comfortable interfacing with EE, FPGA, and mechanical teams

Preferred Qualifications

Data converter (ADC/DAC) electrical characteristics, architectures, and design tradeoffs (SNR, ENOB, linearity, settling time), including basic understanding of sampling theory, decimation/interpolation filters, and anti-aliasing as they relate to converter performance in closed-loop control systems
Analog and mixed-signal board-level design and troubleshooting best practices (power integrity, signal integrity, grounding)
Experience with production hardware debug and root cause analysis
Preferred Qualifications — Additional
Low-noise design techniques (grounding, shielding, power supply filtering)
Filter design basics (active/passive, analog/digital)
Digital interface protocols (SPI, I2C, LVDS, CAN, Ethernet) and use cases
Basic programming experience (Python, C, or scripting for test automation)
Awareness of radiation effects (SEU, TID) on semiconductor devices
Thermal considerations for space-qualified electronics
Experience in aerospace or defense environments
Tools & Technologies
MATLAB/Simulink, Python, Git, lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, signal generators, spectrum analyzers), FPGA tools (Vivado/ModelSim), real-time platforms (Speedgoat/dSPACE), schematic capture and PCB CAD tools

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 - 117,300.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually


Company - Amazon Kuiper Manufacturing Enterprises LLC

Job ID: A10441317
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