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 D2D Phased Array Architect to join the Payload Architecture team in San Diego. You will be a key technical contributor to the architecture of our Direct-to-Device satellite payload — a cellular-band phased array system designed to deliver connectivity directly to unmodified smartphones from space. You will work alongside experienced architects and engineers, helping shape the D2D phased array architecture as it evolves through current and future satellite generations.
This role requires strong phased array architecture expertise spanning the RF front-end and digital backend — including high-speed serial interconnects, digital beamforming, transmit chain linearization techniques like DPD and CFR, and RF front-end design across multiple semiconductor process technologies. Knowledge of 5G NR and non-terrestrial network communications is important as you will work at the intersection of cellular standards and space-based phased array design.
You will define phased array requirements and work with the verification team to validate them through test. You will collaborate with systems, HW design, communication systems, regulatory, silicon, antenna, calibration, thermal, power, mechanical, reliability, and verification teams to ensure architecture and requirements are achievable within space environment constraints.
Beyond the current payload, you will evaluate emerging technologies and 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 with cellular or satellite phased array systems, 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
● Translate high-level service and coverage requirements into D2D payload requirements — accounting for thermal, power, mechanical, reliability, and mass constraints
● Propose and own the D2D phased array architecture spanning the full signal chain from antenna element through RF front-end through digital beamforming backend to modem interface
● Work with systems, HW design, antenna, silicon, and calibration teams to realize the architecture
● Contribute to customer link performance — working with systems and customer terminal teams to meet end-to-end link requirements
● Define phased array requirements that flow from system-level needs down to subsystem and component specifications
● Work with the verification team to develop test plans that validate those requirements
● Define signal integrity requirements for high-speed serial interconnects based on SerDes technology selection, and review analysis performed by the SI team
● Support RF front-end and DPD/CFR architecture trade studies across multiple semiconductor process technologies
● Collaborate with communication systems and regulatory teams to translate 5G NR and NTN standards into phased array requirements
● Evaluate emerging technologies to inform 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 program and next generation. On any given day you might translate service requirements into payload requirements, run architecture trade studies, review DPD simulations, define signal integrity requirements for high-speed interconnects, or refine requirements based on verification needs. You contribute to customer link analysis and work across HW design, antenna, silicon, and calibration teams to realize the architecture. Some weeks you evaluate emerging technologies and define the roadmap for future satellites. Other days you are in the lab debugging a test result or on a call resolving an on-orbit issue.
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. We are based in San Diego.
