Controls Engineer, Amazon Leo Optical Inter-Satellite Link

Amazon

Redmond, WA

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JOB DETAILS

SKILLS

Aerospace and Defense, Algorithms, Analog Signal, Analog/Digital Converter, Analysis Skills, BASIC Programming Language, Best Practices, Broadband, C Programming Language, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), Campaigns, Configuration Management, Control Engineering, Control Systems, Data Analysis, Debugging Skills, Digital/Analog Converter, Document Management, Electrical Design, Electrical Engineering, Electricity, Electronics, Ethernet, FPGA, Failure Reporting Analysis and Corrective Action System (FRACAS), Git, Hardware Debugging, Hardware Quality Assurance, I2C, Identify Issues, Instrumentation, Integration Testing, LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling), Laboratory, Logic Analyzer, MATLAB, Materials Management, Mechanical Engineering, Mixed Signal Circuits, Model Validation, ModelSim, Optics, Oscilloscope, Printed Circuit Board (PCB), Printed Circuit Board Design, Production Support, Python Programming/Scripting Language, Records Management, Regulations, Root Cause Analysis, Schematic Capture, Schematics, Semiconductors, Signal Integrity, Signal-to-noise Ratio (SNR), Simulation, Source Code/Configuration Management (SCM), Spectrum Analyzers, Support Documentation, Systems Engineering, Technical Leadership, Telemetry, Test Case, Test Plan/Schedule, Test Scripts, Test Vector, Testing, Trade Studies, Trend Analysis, United States Citizen, Use Cases, Validation Testing, Verification Engineering, Willing to Travel

LOCATION

Redmond, WA

POSTED

27 days ago

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

About the Company

Amazon

At Amazon, we don’t wait for the next big idea to present itself. We envision the shape of impossible things and then we boldly make them reality. So far, this mindset has helped us achieve some incredible things. Let’s build new systems, challenge the status quo, and design the world we want to live in. We believe the work you do here will be the best work of your life.

Wherever you are in your career exploration, Amazon likely has an opportunity for you. Our research scientists and engineers shape the future of natural language understanding with Alexa. Fulfillment center associates around the globe send customer orders from our warehouses to doorsteps. Product managers set feature requirements, strategy, and marketing messages for brand new customer experiences. And as we grow, we’ll add jobs that haven’t been invented yet.

It’s Always Day 1
At Amazon, it’s always “Day 1.” Now, what does this mean and why does it matter? It means that our approach remains the same as it was on Amazon’s very first day – to make smart, fast decisions, stay nimble, invent, and stay focused on delighting our customers. In our 2016 shareholder letter, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos shared his thoughts on how to keep up a Day 1 company mindset. “Staying in Day 1 requires you to experiment patiently, accept failures, plant seeds, protect saplings, and double down when you see customer delight,” he wrote. “A customer-obsessed culture best creates the conditions where all of that can happen.” You can read the full letter here

Our Leadership Principles
Our Leadership Principles help us keep a Day 1 mentality. They aren’t just a pretty inspirational wall hanging. Amazonians use them, every day, whether they’re discussing ideas for new projects, deciding on the best solution for a customer’s problem, or interviewing candidates. To read through our Leadership Principles from Customer Obsession to Bias for Action, visit https://www.amazon.jobs/principles

COMPANY SIZE

10,000 employees or more

INDUSTRY

Other/Not Classified

FOUNDED

1994

WEBSITE

http://Amazon.com/militaryroles