Senior Manager, RF System Integration and Test, Amazon Leo

Amazon Leo is building a satellite constellation delivering Ka-band broadband and NTN Direct to Device connectivity to standard 3GPP handsets. Nothing launches until its radio performance is proven, and nothing stays healthy in orbit without the means to watch it. Both are the responsibility of RF System Integration and Test team in Amazon Leo.

We are looking for a senior engineering leader to own this function. You will lead an organization of managers and engineers accountable for RF and RAN-level verification across multiple generations of Ka-band broadband and the NTN Direct to Device payload — product lines at different stages of maturity, from production through integration to definition. You will also own the purpose-built test and monitoring systems that make that verification possible.

As a growing team this is a build-the-organization role as much as a run-the-organization role. The function is scaling substantially against a production ramp and a Direct to Device launch, across multiple sites. You will set the multi-year verification strategy, own the investment case for it, and be accountable for the verified performance data that gates every generation's launch readiness.

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
• Verification strategy across product lines
• Own the multi-year RF and RAN-level verification strategy spanning multiple generations of proprietary Ka-band broadband and 3GPP NTN Direct to Device
• Define what constitutes sufficient evidence of radio performance for launch readiness, and hold that line under based on lab and outdoor tests
• Own end-to-end RF verification of each new generation as hardware and software arrive, including line-replaceable unit acceptance testing that de-risks program timelines

For Ka-band: own performance and conformance verification of customer terminal and gateway links, production and general-availability readiness, throughput and capacity investigation, over-the-air debug and field validation

For NTN Direct to Device: own RF conformance of the payload, radio resource management verification, radio-access-to-core end-to-end testing, user equipment acceptance testing, and the progression from laboratory into over-the-air trials

Direct test infrastructure definition for future capability — new spectrum bands, and integrated communication and sensing

RF and RAN-level system verification

Own RF characterization across both product lines: EIRP, beam pattern and pointing accuracy, beam steering, array calibration, spectral conformance, and transmit and receive array performance

Own RAN-level and radio resource management verification: scheduling, beam hopping, admission control, power control, link adaptation, and behavior under load and across capacity modes

Own verification of the RAN system-level use cases that determine whether the service actually works, including initial network entry, handover and mobility, radio link monitoring and recovery, session continuity, and GNSS-less operation

Ensure these campaigns are executed across both the indoor laboratory and the mobile test laboratory, so that behavior proven in a controlled environment is confirmed under real-world motion, geometry and propagation

Test and monitoring systems as a product portfolio

Own the roadmap, investment case and delivery of a portfolio of purpose-built test and monitoring systems, developed in house as custom hardware and software rather than assembled from commercial instrumentation

Own the ground-based monitoring network that provides automated, real-time visibility of phased array transmit and receive health and signal quality on live payloads. This is the only mechanism by which payload RF performance can be observed in production, and scaling it from a limited set of ground stations toward constellation-wide coverage is a strategic deliverable, not a tooling task

• Own the mobile test laboratory development and opeation — vehicle-based platforms that take RF and RAN-level verification into the field
• Own flight-representative channel-emulation test venues, which serve as reference environments for payload qualification across the organisation
• Decide build versus buy across the portfolio, and own the consequences of those decisions
• Organizational leadership
• Lead and develop a team of engineering managers, and extend the organizational structure as the scope scales
• Own hiring strategy for a specialized and competitive talent pool spanning RF, antenna, protocol and test-systems engineering and software / automation development
• Lead a multi-site organization, including laboratory build-out and operational readiness across facilities
• Develop senior technical and managerial talent, and build bench strength ahead of need
• Planning and investment
• Own annual and multi-year planning for the function: headcount, operating expense, and capital
• Own the investment case for test infrastructure and laboratory build-out, and defend it in planning forums
• Manage significant test capital and vendor commitments, including silicon and protocol stack partners
• Cross-organization leadership

Partner with systems and PHY/MAC design teams on what must be verified and how, with payload development on designing for testability, and with the Payload Integration and Test (PIT) team for payload qualification and flight validation organization whose gates consume your evidence

Represent verification status, risk and readiness to program and executive leadership

Lead technical engagement with silicon, protocol stack and test equipment partners at commitment level

About the team

Communication Systems is the systems engineering and technology organisation responsible for designing, simulating, integrating and verifying satellite communications across every generation of Amazon Leo — Ka-band broadband and NTN Direct to Device. The team owns the signal chain from PHY and MAC design through RF verification, and produces the analytical and verification foundation the business depends on for capacity planning, coverage forecasting and network investment decisions.

RF System Integration and Test is the function that turns design intent into proven performance.

• Basic Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics or physics
• 5+ years of engineering management experience, including experience managing engineering managers
• 10+ years in RF, wireless or satellite communications engineering, with significant depth in test, integration or verification
• Experience owning verification for a commercial wireless or satellite communications product through launch or general availability
• Experience owning headcount and capital planning for an engineering function

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading verification across multiple concurrent product generations at different maturity stages
• Depth in active phased array test and characterization — near-field, compact antenna test range or far-field methods, beam pattern, pointing accuracy and array calibration verification
• Experience building organizations that develop custom test systems as products, hardware and software together, rather than operating purchased instrumentation
• Experience verifying system-level radio behavior — initial access, handover and mobility, link recovery — rather than component performance alone
• 3GPP NR or LTE RF conformance and radio resource management verification experience; non-terrestrial network experience strongly preferred
• Satellite payload or space hardware verification leadership, with an appreciation of what changes when the article becomes unreachable after launch
• Experience owning field, drive-test or mobile laboratory programs, and production monitoring networks at geographic scale
• Experience with both proprietary and standards-based air interfaces
• Experience leading multi-site engineering organizations and multi-million-dollar test capital program
• Master's degree or higher in a relevant field
• 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.
• 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, TX, Austin - 208,300.00 - 281,800.00 USD annually

USA, WA, Redmond - 208,300.00 - 281,800.00 USD annually