Flexible Protection & Controls Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA

Amazon LEO is an initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.
We are looking for a PAT Engineer to assist in the development, testing, and validation of pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) systems for free-space optical links across the Amazon LEO satellite constellation. This role blends electrical engineering, opto-mechatronics, and controls knowledge to support the PAT team across FPGA verification, hardware integration and testing, and model-based design. You will work closely with senior PAT engineers to execute test campaigns, maintain verification infrastructure, and help bridge the gap between algorithm models and hardware implementations.
This is an on-site role

The position sits within the OISL Electrical Engineering team, with workload focused on PAT/controls activities directed by the senior PAT engineer and also supporting the EE team on production RCAs, trade studies, and board-level design and bring-up. The split is flexible based on program phase and candidate strengths.
Day to day, you will work alongside senior PAT engineers and EE team members, contributing across multiple workstreams. A controls-focused background is ideal, with supporting knowledge in electrical engineering, mechanical systems, optics, or aerospace

The role requires comfort moving between flight data analysis, simulation, test infrastructure, and hardware debug depending on program needs. Flexible hours may be needed during test campaigns, and occasional travel to integration/testing facilities is required.
Over time, there is opportunity to grow ownership of specific PAT subsystems and take on more independent technical leadership within the PAT and EE domains.
Key job responsibilities
Flight Data Analysis & Simulation Correlation
Analyze flight telemetry data and compare against simulation predictions - identify discrepancies, characterize on-orbit behavior, and support anomaly investigations
Run and maintain simulation environments to reproduce flight scenarios and validate model fidelity against observed data
Help narrow down root causes by correlating flight data trends with known model behaviors and hardware characteristics
Production Failure Support & RCA
Support production and on-orbit failure investigations - review data, identify patterns, and help narrow down failure modes
Assist with electrical RCAs and help debug board-level issues
Contribute to failure analysis reports and corrective action documentation
Support production ramp activities requiring EE analysis and hardware troubleshooting
FPGA Verification & Test Vector Development
Develop and maintain test vectors to verify PAT FPGA implementations against Simulink reference models
Run bit-accurate simulations, compare outputs, and flag discrepancies between model and FPGA behavior
Work with existing models of PAT control loops and state machines - run simulations, generate test cases, and validate behavior
Support model-in-the-loop (MIL), software-in-the-loop (SIL), and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) verification activities
Electrical Engineering Support
Contribute to trade studies for data converter selection and signal chain architecture
Support board-level testing, characterization, and troubleshooting for analog and mixed-signal circuits
Assist with electrical design reviews
Support production ramps and RCAs from an electrical and controls perspective
Documentation & Configuration Management
Document test procedures, results, RCA findings, and discrepancy investigations clearly
Help maintain version-controlled models, scripts, and test artifacts
Contribute to test reports, review materials, and configuration management records
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.