Senior Technical Program Manager, Satellite
Amazon Leo, D2D Software
Amazon Kuiper Manufacturing Enterprises Llc
Redmond
Full-time
Senior-level
Amazon Leo is building a low Earth orbit satellite constellation to bring fast, affordable connectivity to customers around the world. Direct to Device (D2D) extends Leo to standard mobile phones and devices: a fully regenerative fifth-generation (5G) mobile base station on each satellite, delivering service to standard handsets through mobile network operators (MNOs). D2D Software builds the embedded software that flies, the cloud and ground software that runs the service, and the platform that connects them. Our target is under a day from a defect being found to the fix deployed across the entire constellation, achieved by automating everything that a person would otherwise do by hand. This role leads satellite in Software Delivery & Business Ops, reporting to the Director, Software Delivery & Business Ops. It owns handovers and supplier delivery for the satellite domain. Before anything is handed on, the bar is: every satellite handover has exit criteria agreed. It hands off to its customers as follows: integrated schedule and supplier scorecards to Satellite Software Development. What the team needs to achieve • Every satellite handover has exit criteria agreed. • Hand-offs that meet their service level: integrated schedule and supplier scorecards to Satellite Software Development. • Measured, rising capability and efficiency of the team, with manual work falling release over release. How the team is measured • Satellite handovers with exit criteria agreed before work starts. • Supplier drops delivered on schedule and accepted or rejected on time. • Satellite milestones landing inside their forecast window. Key job responsibilities • Own handovers and supplier delivery for the satellite domain. • Meet the bar before every hand-off: every satellite handover has exit criteria agreed. • Work directly with engineers in the boundary teams as partners, through agreed contracts and service levels. • Automate everything a person would otherwise do twice. • Run the program's mechanisms, metrics, and reviews, and clear blockers with the right people, escalating when needed. • Identify and mitigate program risks early, build consensus across teams, and mentor other program managers. This role runs the handovers and supplier delivery for the satellite domain, from the radio and payload software suppliers to the manufacturing readiness gate. Supplier delivery is part of the role: drop schedules, supplier service levels, delivery commitments, and escalations, while the engineering team owns the technical relationship and Software Integration, Verification & Reliability gives the acceptance verdict. It matters because the satellite schedule depends on supplier drops, scarce hardware, and embedded software that must be ready before each satellite is built. Without it, supplier slips surface late, handovers between teams break, and satellite software misses the dates manufacturing depends on. 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. About the team D2D Software is an evolving organization of many teams: Software Architecture & Specifications; Software Delivery & Business Ops; Software Integration, Verification & Reliability; DevOps & Release; Satellite Software Development; Ground Software Development; and Customer Software Engineering & Support. Each Director owns business outcomes: delivering the commitments, and the capability and efficiency of their teams. Teams work as internal customers and suppliers with agreed service levels, interfaces are agreed centrally while designs stay local, and engineers are expected to work directly with engineers across every boundary. Milestones are committed deadlines for delivery with quality, not gates to wait on, and every team runs on one toolchain and one system of record. Every measure is derived from the systems of record, never self-reported, and we improve release over release with a target of perfection.