Sr. Phased Array RF Front End Architect, Payload Architecture Team

Amazon Leo is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite constellation initiative designed to bring fast, affordable broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. We are building a next-generation satellite system from the ground up — designing everything from the spacecraft and payload to the ground infrastructure and customer terminals. This is a rare opportunity to join a team that is shaping the future of global connectivity at scale.

We are looking for a Phased Array RF Front End Architect to join the Payload Architecture team in San Diego. This is a cross-program role — you will own the phased array RF front-end architecture for both the Direct-to-Device (cellular-band) and Broadband (Ka-band) satellite payloads.

You will work hand-in-hand with the D2D Phased Array Architect, the Broadband Phased Array Architect, and the DSP & Digital Beamforming Architect to define and improve the phased array RF front-end architecture and semiconductor process strategy across both programs.

This role requires deep expertise in phased array RF front-end design spanning cellular-band and Ka-band frequencies. You will own the analog RF signal chain from antenna element to the digital interface, making architecture decisions across the transmit and receive signal chains.

A central challenge is ensuring that front-end performance — noise figure, linearity, and efficiency — is maintained across all beam steering conditions, including scan loss management, impedance variation with scan angle, and element-level amplitude and phase consistency for beamforming. You must also be fluent in the space-unique constraints — thermal, radiation, power, and vacuum — that separate satellite design from terrestrial work.

You will define phased array RF front-end requirements and work with the verification team to validate them through test. This role bridges the RF front-end with the beamforming architecture — you must understand how front-end performance impacts beam quality, sidelobe levels, and effective radiated power across scan angles.

You will collaborate with systems, HW design, silicon, antenna, calibration, thermal, power, mechanical, and reliability teams to ensure the phased array RF front-end architecture is achievable within space environment constraints. Beyond current programs, you will evaluate emerging semiconductor processes and front-end technologies to contribute to the architecture roadmap for future satellite generations.

This is a hands-on role — you will be in the lab, in the data, and on call when satellites are live. If you have experience designing RF front-end architectures for phased arrays across multiple frequency bands and semiconductor processes, we want to hear from you.

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 the phased array RF front-end architecture across both D2D and Broadband payloads — spanning the analog signal chain from antenna element to digital interface
• Ensure RF front-end performance across all beam steering angles — including scan loss, impedance variation, and element-level amplitude and phase consistency
• Define T/R module architecture balancing performance, integration, and semiconductor process trade-offs across both programs
• Work with the D2D and Broadband Phased Array Architects to ensure RF front-end consistency with full signal chain requirements
• Co-optimize phased array RF front-end performance with digital beamforming — including PA linearity-efficiency with DPD/CFR and analog-to-digital interface definition
• Drive semiconductor process selection trade studies balancing RF performance, integration, cost, and radiation tolerance
• Define radiation tolerance requirements for front-end components and work with silicon teams to qualify parts
• Flow down front-end requirements from system level to component level and work with verification to validate through test
• Contribute to thermal and power architecture for the RF front-end within space environment constraints
• Evaluate emerging semiconductor technologies and integration approaches for the next generation architecture roadmap
• Support production and on-orbit debug — this role is hands-on and on-call

A day in the life

• You split your time between the current programs and next generation, working across both D2D and Broadband payloads. On any given day you might run phased array RF front-end trade studies, review front-end performance data across beam steering angles, define requirements for the transmit or receive chain, work with the payload architects and DSP architect to align architecture decisions, or evaluate an emerging semiconductor process. Some weeks you are deep in thermal or power budget analysis. Other days you are in the lab running measurements, on a call with a silicon vendor, or supporting an on-orbit anomaly investigation.

About the team

The Payload Architecture team is part of the Antenna organization at Amazon Leo. We are a small group of senior architects responsible for the phased array architecture across Amazon Leo’s satellite programs. We define the architecture, drive requirements, run trade studies, and make sure everything works from prototype through orbit. Our scope extends to customer link performance — working with systems and customer terminal teams to close end-to-end link budgets.

We work closely with every engineering team on the payload and pride ourselves on being hands-on problem solvers.

• Basic Qualifications
• Master's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or equivalent
• Experience in component selection and understanding of component reliability
• Experience with RF measurement equipment, including: power meters, spectrum analyzers, vector signal generators, network analyzers, oscilloscopes
• Experience in wireless system design and architecture, system integration, and RF system analysis
• Experience in practical semiconductor design work including full-chip and subsystem integration
• Experience in phased array RF front-end or T/R module architecture, including performance across beam steering angles
• Experience in developing RF system simulators or link budget tools using MATLAB, Python, or C++
• 7+ years of experience in RF front-end or phased array architecture for wireless, satellite, or defense applications

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Space Vehicle/Satellite Operations, Space Communications or related industry
• PhD in electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics or physics
• Experience participating in or leading technical collaborations and creating alignment across diverse groups (e.g., hardware engineering, software engineering, program management)
• Experience with multi-band or wideband RF front-end architecture spanning cellular-band and Ka-band or mmWave frequencies
• Experience with phased array scan performance analysis including scan loss, active impedance, and element pattern effects
• Experience co-optimizing PA linearity-efficiency trade-offs with transmit chain linearization techniques such as DPD or CFR
• Equal Opportunity
• 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, San Diego - 159,200.00 - 215,300.00 USD annually