Software Development Engineer (Payload SW), STAR (System Test Automation and Regression)

Amazon Leo is Amazon's low Earth orbit satellite network delivering fast, reliable internet connectivity to customers beyond the reach of existing networks. Behind every satellite in our constellation is a payload-the communication system that makes connectivity possible. Before a single satellite reaches orbit, its payload software must be validated, stressed, and proven through rigorous automated testing. We are hiring a Software Development Engineer to build the automation that validates payload software at scale. You will work at the intersection of satellite communication systems and software engineering, developing frameworks that test how payload software manages signal routing, beam forming, frequency coordination, and network handoffs. This is not black-box button-pushing-you will develop a deep understanding of how payload software operates, then translate that understanding into automated test systems that catch defects before they reach orbit. Our team builds the regression-testing automation that runs continuously as payload software evolves. Every code change, every configuration update, every firmware revision passes through the systems you build. Your work directly gates satellite production and launch readiness. What Makes This Role Different You will not just write test scripts. You will understand what the payload software does-how it manages links, allocates capacity, handles interference, and recovers from faults-and use that understanding to build automation that validates behavior across thousands of scenarios no human could execute manually. You will own the feedback loop between payload development and production 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

• Design and develop automated test frameworks for satellite communication systems, focusing on end-to-end validation and system integration testing of payload software.
• Develop a working understanding of payload software architecture-signal processing chains, protocol stacks, resource management, and fault handling-to write tests that exercise real operational scenarios.
• Build CI/CD pipelines that trigger automated regression suites on every payload software change, providing rapid feedback to development teams.
• Collaborate with engineers across the organization (payload software, systems engineering, RF, operations) to gather requirements, define test strategies, and identify gaps in coverage.
• Develop complex test sequences that coordinate and synchronize equipment and services across multiple layers to verify function and performance of satellite hardware and software.
• Build scalable automation solutions that reduce manual testing effort and accelerate release cycles.
• Create dashboards and monitoring tools for system health, test pass rates, and data pipeline integrity.
• Analyze test results, identify failure patterns, and implement improvements to increase test coverage and reliability.
• Collaborate with internal and external customers to define and implement system architectures for integrated test venues.
• Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and technical discussions to deliver high-quality software.

A day in the life You start by reviewing overnight regression results from your automated framework-200+ test cases ran against the latest payload software build. Three failures need triage: one is a known environment issue, one reveals a real regression in beam handoff logic, and one exposes a gap in your test coverage. You file the regression, update your framework to cover the gap, then join a design review with the payload software team to understand an upcoming feature change and plan test coverage ahead of implementation. After lunch, you pair with a systems engineer to extend your hardware-in-the-loop test bench to support a new antenna configuration. You push your changes through CI, watch the pipeline go green, and update the team dashboard before end of day. About the team The STAR (System Test Automation and Regression) team for payload test automation builds the regression-testing backbone for payload software. We own the frameworks, pipelines, and infrastructure that validate every payload software release before it reaches a satellite. We operate at the boundary between software engineering and satellite systems-our engineers understand both domains and bridge them through automation.

3+ years of non-internship professional software development experience

• 3+ years of programming with at least one modern language such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Golang, PowerShell, Ruby experience

• 3+ years of designing or architecting (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience

• Experience building test automation frameworks and tools Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience

• Bachelor's degree or above in computer science, electrical engineering, or related field

• Experience building data pipelines or automated ETL processes

• Experience troubleshooting and debugging technical systems, or experience demonstrating software engineering skills in a previous intership, work experience, coding competitions, or publications and experience with automation and any version control tools

• Knowledge of networking including the OSI model and how satellite payload communication systems operate

• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments

• Familiarity with RF systems, signal processing, or satellite communication protocols

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 . USA, CA, NORTHRIDGE - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually USA, CA, San Diego - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually USA, CA, Sunnyvale - 165,200.00 - 223,600.00 USD annually USA, WA, Redmond - 143,700.00 - 194,400.00 USD annually