Senior Embedded Software Engineer, Amazon Leo Digital RF Systems

Amazon • San Diego, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Amazon Leo is seeking an experienced embedded software engineer with security experience to architect and develop mission-critical firmware for their satellite systems. The role involves working at the intersection of hardware and software, developing ASIC firmware including control for RF communication subsystems that enable high-performance satellite links. The work spans secure ASIC boot operation, low-level register control, RF hardware configuration, algorithms, and real-time embedded software that drives satellite operations. 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.

Requirements

• 7+ years of non-internship professional software development experience.
• 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience.
• 7+ 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.
• Knowledge of programming languages such as C/C++, Python, Java or Perl.
• 7+ years of professional software engineering experience, with significant contributions to system design and architecture of complex systems (including architecture patterns, reliability, scaling, and security considerations).
• Deep expertise in secure embedded firmware development for bare-metal or RTOS-based systems, with proven ability to meet real-time, low-power, reliability, and security requirements under hardware resource constraints.
• Experience with debugging tools such as GDB for testing code on FPGA or prototype chips.
• Experience with security-aware software design, including threat modeling, security reviews, and vulnerability assessment.
• Practical knowledge of penetration testing methodologies and tools for embedded systems.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in system-level architecture and board-level design.
• Background working with security-aware bootloaders, secure boot chains, and trusted execution environments.
• Practical experience using cryptography libraries (mbedTLS, OpenSSL, PKCS11) in secure applications, including key management and secure storage.
• Knowledge of security standards and frameworks (e.g., Common Criteria, NIST guidelines, secure coding standards).
• Experience with hardware security modules (HSMs) or trusted platform modules (TPMs).
• Familiarity with secure communications protocols and encryption implementations.
• Knowledge of telecommunications or data communications systems security (routers and switches).
• Experience with security certifications or compliance requirements for aerospace/defense systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead software development for critical modules including ASIC firmware, commanding systems, telemetry processing, power control, hardware interfaces, and autonomous capabilities, implementing security-by-design principles throughout the satellite's operational lifetime.
• Design and implement robust, security-hardened software and firmware in Linux and real-time operating system (RTOS) environments, ensuring high reliability and security under resource constraints.
• Drive security architecture for the ASIC and involve in threat modeling by identifying potential vulnerabilities, conducting security reviews, and designing defensive measures to protect satellite systems from cyber threats.
• Build hardware interfaces by writing software that communicates with devices and electronics using protocols including I2C, I3C, SPI, UART, USB, JTAG, and Ethernet, with appropriate security controls and authentication mechanisms.
• Collaborate closely with hardware design teams, chip architects, and customers to support secure custom silicon chip and board design, bringing new hardware from concept through secure bring-up, verification, and integration.
• Champion reliability by following best practices in secure embedded software development, including secure coding standards, code reviews, and security testing to ensure systems meet the demanding requirements of space operations.
• Optimize for production by partnering with test engineers to integrate security validation into manufacturing and test environments.

Benefits

• 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
• parental leave
• sign-on payments
• restricted stock units (RSUs)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed