ASIC Engineer - RF/DSP Systems Design, LEO

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.

Amazon Leo is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite network. Our mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet connectivity to customers beyond the reach of existing networks. From individual households to schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies, Amazon Leo will serve people and organizations operating in locations without reliable connectivity.

As part of Amazon's Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite team, you will design and implement wireless communication algorithms for custom silicon powering a constellation of 3,236 satellites delivering broadband internet globally. You will develop Digital Signal Processing (DSP) solutions for satellite modem ASICs, working at the intersection of wireless systems theory and hardware implementation. Your algorithms will enable reliable high-speed data links between satellites, ground stations, and customer terminals operating under challenging conditions including rapid Doppler shift, atmospheric fading, and strict power constraints.

NOTE: This is a full-time position, meaning candidates should expect to work in office, Monday-Friday, up to 40 hours per week typically between 8am-5pm. Specific team norms around working hours will be communicated by your manager.

NOTE: By applying to this position, your application will be considered for all Application-Specific Integrated Circuit roles at all locations we hire for in the United States including but not limited to: San Diego Area, Greater Seattle Area (Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond), Greater Bay Area (San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara), Greater DMV (DC, MD, VA), Austin (TX), New York City (NY), Minneapolis (MN).

Key job responsibilities

As a DSP/Wireless Systems ASIC Engineer, you will work with a cross-disciplinary team of RF engineers, ASIC designers, and systems architects to develop the signal processing algorithms that form the core of our satellite communication system.

Responsibilities:

- Design and simulate wireless communication algorithms using MATLAB and Python

- Convert floating-point DSP algorithms to fixed-point for hardware implementation

- Develop and optimize OFDM waveforms for satellite links

- Analyze BER/SNR performance across channel conditions and Doppler profiles

- Collaborate with RTL and RF/RFIC teams to translate algorithms into hardware

- Apply ML/deep learning to signal processing (e.g., channel prediction, interference cancellation)

A day in the life

You might start your morning running MATLAB simulations to evaluate a new channel estimation algorithm under LEO-specific Doppler conditions. After analyzing BER curves, you'll work with the RTL team to discuss fixed-point bit-width requirements for your latest equalizer design. In the afternoon, you could be optimizing an OFDM synchronization scheme to handle the rapid frequency offsets unique to LEO satellite links, or running Python scripts to validate your algorithm against 5G NR reference models. Your work directly determines whether a customer terminal can maintain a reliable gigabit connection as satellites pass overhead at 17,000+ mph.

Basic qualifications

- Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining, a Bachelor's degree or above in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields

- Experience in communication theory, OFDM, MIMO, Digital/Wireless Communication Systems or RF engineering

- Knowledge of analog and digital skills

- Experience with MATLAB and/or Python for algorithm development and simulation

Preferred qualifications

- Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering, or experience in communication theory, OFDM, MIMO, Digital/Wireless Communication Systems or RF engineering

- Experience in embedded wireless systems, or experience in embedded development in C/C++

- Experience in machine learning, data mining, information retrieval, statistics or natural language processing, or experience in embedded wireless systems

- Knowledge of communication systems fundamentals (modulation, coding, channel modeling)

- Experience converting floating-point algorithms to fixed-point for hardware/ASIC implementation

- Experience with BER/SNR analysis and link budget optimization

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 starting pay for this position is listed below. Starting Day 1 of employment, Amazon offers EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, 401(k) matching. Learn more about our benefits at https://hiring.amazon.com/why-amazon/benefits.

San Diego, CA, USA - 149,000.00 USD Annually