
Lead ASIC Modem Design Engineer, Satellite Communication
San Diego, CAJob$185–250K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today
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Job overview
Lead ASIC Modem Design Engineer, Satellite Communication role within Amazon's high‑performance ASIC modem team, developing proprietary IP for the Leo low‑earth‑orbit satellite constellation to deliver high‑speed broadband to underserved communities.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
Description
Lead ASIC Modem Design Engineer, Satellite Communication role within a high performance ASIC Modem design team. This team is using industry leading methodologies to develop proprietary IP's. 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.
Come work at Amazon!
The Role:
Be part of Leo's sub-team responsible for defining and implementing the digital chip SOCs for communications via Low Earth Orbit satellites and Amazon gateways. This is a unique opportunity to define a state-of-the-art wireless solution with few legacy constraints. The team works with customer requirements and wireless system teams to define modems, high-speed interfaces, embedded processors, and DSP solutions in latest CMOS generation technologies.
In this role you will:
•Implement wireless system architecture in silicon from system specification to microarchitecture to RTL implementation to optimizing timing / power to chip level validation.
•Develop solutions optimizing customer experience (throughput, latency, and availability) while meeting power and cost constraints.
•Drive high quality designs for first-time right silicon solutions, and meeting the power objectives
•Create standalone verification test bench to verify the correctness of your block.
•Work with the verification team and participate in System level verification using test benches constructed using UVM, System C and DPI-C.
•Ensure that the block meets DFT, timing and power targets by working closely with the implementation team.
•Learn about requirements and solutions for systems operating in space
•Drive trade-off analysis to benefit customer experience and optimization of resources (costs, power, spectrum).
•Define specifications and architecture/micro-architecture for modem PHY subsystem blocks, including signal processing data paths.
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
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Engage with architects and system engineers to drive hardware micro-architecture.
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Lead design of 1 or more DSP data path subsystems System Verilog. Able to interpret reference models in MATLAB/C/C+• Involve in control plane logic design and interfaces to bus fabrics.
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Explore and propose innovative ideas and work towards optimization of the modem.
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Work closely with PHY-MAC boundary teams, software teams, and system integration teams to resolve complex HW-SW interaction issues.
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Support emulation platforms for early software development and system-level validation of modem IP.
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Mentor and assign work to junior team members.
Basic Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Communications Engineering, or experience working in electrical engineering field
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7+ years of experience in digital logic design, preferably in DSP or communication systems.
Preferred Qualifications
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Master's or Ph.D degree in Electrical / Communications Engineering.
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7+ years of experience in digital design, preferably in communication systems.
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Familiarity with UVM and Matlab.
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Knowledge of wireless communication standards (e.g., 5G NR, LTE, DVB-S2/S2X, or satellite communication protocols).
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Experience with ASIC design tools such as Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics for synthesis, timing analysis, and physical design flows.
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Experience with low-power design techniques for advanced CMOS nodes.
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Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills for complex silicon issues.
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Ability to write assertions and exposure to Formal verification
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 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, CA, San Diego - 185,200.00 - 250,000.00 USD annually
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How this job compares
Set against the 2,947 open Hardware Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$185–250K/yr
- California median$146–214K/yr901 salary ranges
- US median$132–204K/yr2,139 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $218K, is 21% above the California median midpoint ($180K) — in the top quarter of Hardware Engineer salary ranges in California.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 1,203 open Hardware Engineer jobs in California and 2,947 across the US. 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 7 years of experience; Hardware Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (2,467 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 1,751 of the 2,947 open Hardware Engineer jobs (59%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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