Senior Launch Engineer - Launch Operations Software Team, Project Kuiper

Launch Operations Systems Engineer

Project Kuiper is Amazon's low Earth orbit satellite broadband network. Its mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet to customers and communities around the world, and we've designed the system with the capacity, flexibility, and performance to serve a wide range of customers, from individual households to schools, hospitals, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations operating in locations without reliable connectivity.

We are looking for a talented engineer to help develop and maintain the code infrastructure and software procedures used to process Kuiper satellites for launch. As part of the Kuiper team, you will solve difficult problems where resolutions have high impact, and help create a brand new set of launch site processes and standards. To be successful you need to be highly motivated and detail oriented while maintaining the highest standards of execution.

The Launch Operations Systems Engineer is part of a team of system development engineers who build and maintain both a code pipeline and a code library used to process satellites at the launch sites. This code includes the ability to charge the satellite batteries, perform a health and aliveness check, load propellant, and integrate with the launch providers' hardware. The individual must be comfortable working with both satellite hardware and software technologies and understand how software solutions directly impact the satellite and the people working on it. The ideal candidate is an electrical engineer who loves to code or a software engineer who enjoys working on physical systems.

This engineer will work directly with the manufacturing engineering teams at the launch site as well as several software teams through the Kuiper organization. As the final touchpoint for satellite processing before launch, the Launch Operations Software team often combines contributions from other teams and subject matter experts to execute satellite processes. Most problems we tackle often start out ambiguous and are defined by this team as the needs of the satellite and manufacturing engineers are better understood. The ideal candidate is comfortable in a highly technical and collaborative setting and is able to interpret technical requirements and turn them into actionable steps.

Key job responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain satellite processing software test procedures
• Develop and maintain code pipeline infrastructure
• Test satellite code ahead of release using hardware in the loop and other test assets
• Support manufacturing engineers by defining and executing test requirements
• Develop automated testing systems to increase satellite manufacturing processes
• Collaborate with hardware and software design teams to triage and resolve operational issues
• Operations will occur on first shift, second shift, and weekend work may be required depending on testing/production/launch schedules
• This position is based in Merritt Island, FL but does require travel, up to 10% annually, either domestically or internationally

A day in the life:

A Launch Operations Systems Engineer is customer obsessed with the satellite manufacturing team. They collaborate with design and manufacturing engineers to turn test requirements into software procedures. One day they may be designing a new a software capability. The next day, they will be maintaining the code pipeline. The third day, they might be working with the manufacturing engineers to command the satellite. They will develop new solutions, test them on non-flight articles, solicit review and approval from other stakeholders and release a final solution. The ideal candidate works in collaboration with other departments to deliver a software solution.

About the team:

Here at Amazon, we embrace our differences. We are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion. Amazon has ten employee-led affinity groups, reaching 40,000 employees in over 190 chapters globally. We have innovative benefit offerings, and host annual and ongoing learning experiences. At Amazon, our mission is to be the most customer-centric company on Earth. To get there, we need exceptionally talented, bright and driven people. We're dedicated to supporting new team members. Our team has a broad mix of experience levels and Amazon tenures, and we're building an environment that celebrates knowledge sharing.