Senior Software Development Engineer, Optical Inter-Satellite Link

Amazon Inc

Confirmed live yesterday High trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Sunnyvale, CARedmond, WANorthridge, CA
Salary: $168,100–$227,400 / yr
Posted: 21 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live yesterday
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $170k

This role $198k

$134k most similar roles pay here $237k

This role pays more than 92% of similar roles. Most pay $152,000–$187,200 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $198k versus about $170k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About Amazon Inc

Amazon Inc. is the world''s largest e-commerce and cloud computing company, operating the Amazon marketplace, AWS cloud platform, Prime subscription services, Alexa voice AI, and logistics infrastructure. Industry: E-Commerce & Cloud Computing

Amazon Inc currently has 457 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $143,700–$194,400 across 447 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Senior Software Development Engineer, Optical Inter-Satellite Link

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As a Senior Software Development Engineer on the Optical Inter-Satellite Link team, you will develop critical software to manage high-speed laser communications between satellites in low Earth orbit. You will design and enhance switch-management software, including translating routes from SDN controllers into forwarding-table entries while building MAC-learning and loop-prevention logic for redundant topologies. Your daily work involves optimizing networking layers of flight software on embedded Linux, developing device drivers, and creating tools for network diagnostics like packet capture and structured logging. The role requires expertise in C/C++ or Rust, experience with switch SDKs, and knowledge of L2 protocols such as RSTP, BFD, MPLS, and ARP. You will solve complex problems regarding deterministic, low-latency packet forwarding across a satellite mesh to ensure reliable space-based connectivity through advanced optical communication systems.

What does a Software Development Engineer earn in California?

Median $217725 from 77 postings across 8 companies.

See salary data

Skills

C C++ Rust Embedded Linux SDN L2 Networking RSTP BFD MPLS ARP ARM Packet Capture Structured Logging Metrics Source Control Management Distributed Systems

What you'll do

Design and enhance switch-management software to enable deterministic, low-latency packet forwarding across the satellite constellation.
Implement MAC-learning and loop-prevention logic for redundant switch topologies.
Develop and optimize networking layers of flight software for optical inter-satellite link systems on embedded Linux.
Build and extend operational tooling for network diagnostics, including routing-table inspection and packet capture.
Create systems for structured logging and metrics emission to facilitate rapid fault isolation.
Integrate and test high-speed optical communication systems with the underlying networking stack.

What we're looking for

Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, or granted asylum/refugee status.
5+ years of non-internship professional software development experience.
5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language.
5+ years of leading design or architecture of new and existing systems.
5+ years of full software development life cycle experience including coding standards, reviews, source control, and testing.
Experience as a mentor, tech lead, or leading an engineering team.
Experience with a switch SDK and L2 networking protocols like RSTP, BFD, MPLS, and ARP.
Export Control Requirement: Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates.

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