Hardware Development Engineer II, Amazon Leo

We are looking for a hands-on Test Engineer to join the CommSys team within AMZ Leo RF/Modem Dev, responsible for validating 3GPP- and O-RAN-compliant network elements (RAN HW/SW) across lab and integration environments. The ideal candidate is comfortable working at the intersection of RF hardware, software, and automation - executing test campaigns, debugging complex system issues, and collaborating closely with integration, development, and automation teams to ensure product quality and standards compliance.

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

Standards & Test Expertise

• Maintain strong working knowledge of 3GPP standards (LTE/5G NR) and the O-RAN stack (O-DU, O-CU, O-RU, fronthaul/midhaul interfaces, Open Fronthaul specifications).
• Stay current with conformance test specifications/lists (e.g., 3GPP TS 38.141/36.141 series, O-RAN conformance and interoperability test plans) and translate them into executable test cases.
• Understand RF, protocol stack layers (PHY/MAC/RLC/PDCP/RRC), and call-flow behavior well enough to interpret test results and identify root causes.
• Design new test cases to extend coverage for emerging 3GPP/O-RAN features, conformance requirements, and product-specific scenarios. RF & Test Equipment
• Be familiar with RF devices and lab test equipment, including UE simulators, core network emulators, channel emulators, signal generators/analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
• Be familiar with UE evaluation test equipment and procedures used to validate device performance against 3GPP/O-RAN requirements.
• Be familiar with debug and diagnostic tools such as QXDM and other over-the-air (OTA) log analysis tools to troubleshoot UE and network behavior. Test Execution & Data Analysis
• Plan and execute test cases on lab setups covering functional, performance, conformance, and regression testing.
• Collect, organize, and analyze test data/logs (e.g., protocol traces, KPIs, OTA logs) to assess pass/fail criteria.
• Triage test failures - distinguishing between HW faults, SW bugs, configuration issues, and test environment problems - and drive issues to resolution with the right owning team.
• Produce clear, well-documented test reports and defect write-ups for engineering and stakeholders. Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with Hardware, Software, Integration, and Automation teams to coordinate test schedules, align on test setup requirements, and resolve blocking issues quickly.
• Support the integration team in bringing up new HW and SW builds on the test bench, including initial sanity checks and bring-up validation.
• Act as a liaison between test findings and development teams, providing actionable feedback to accelerate fixes. Lab & Test Setup Ownership
• Build, configure, and maintain new lab test setups, including equipment racking, cabling, network configuration, and tool installation.
• Continuously improve existing setups for reliability, repeatability, and test coverage.
• Perform HW and SW upgrades/updates on test equipment and devices under test (DUTs), ensuring minimal downtime.
• Debug and resolve lab/setup-level issues (connectivity, equipment faults, synchronization, environment instability) to keep test lines operational.
• Maintain accurate setup documentation/inventory (topology diagrams, equipment lists, firmware/software versions). Scripting & Automation
• Develop and maintain scripts (Python, Shell, TCL, or similar) to automate repetitive test procedures and setup configuration tasks.
• Build or extend automated test frameworks to increase test throughput and reduce manual effort.
• Integrate automated tests into CI/CD or regression pipelines where applicable, and maintain test automation health.

Basic qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Communications Engineering or a related field

- Solid understanding of 3GPP (LTE/5G NR) architecture and O-RAN network architecture and interfaces.

- Experience with lab test equipment such as UE simulators, core network emulators, channel emulators, signal generators/analyzers, and protocol analyzers.

- Experience with debug/diagnostic tools such as QXDM for OTA log analysis.

- Experience with scripting/automation (Python strongly preferred; familiarity with pytest, Robot Framework, or similar is a plus).

- Strong debugging skills across HW, SW, and network layers.

- Excellent collaboration and communication skills to work across multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred qualifications

- Experience with O-RAN conformance/IOT test plans and certification processes.

- Familiarity with UE evaluation test equipment and device certification workflows.

- Experience designing new test cases and extending test plan coverage for new features or standards releases.

- Experience with lab automation frameworks, CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI), and version control (Git).

- Prior experience in RAN bring-up, integration, or systems validation roles.

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