GNC Sr. System Development Engineer, Prime Air

Amazon Prime Air is seeking a Senior Systems Development Engineer to serve as the technical lead for DO-178C Requirements and Verification Engineering on the DroneGuidance, Navigation & Controls (GNC) team. In this role, you will own the architecture of the requirements and verification lifecycle — defining the standards, processes, and tooling that govern how HLRs, LLRs, software architecture documents, ICDs, and verification evidence are developed across the team.The ideal candidate is a seasoned software developer who has crossed over into systems and requirements engineering — you've built real embedded systems in C/C++ and now apply that depth to defining and verifying what those systems must do. You will also lead the development of software tools for simulation, test automation, and analysis, and serve as the primary technical interface between the requirements/verification function and theSDE implementation team, the DER, and certification authorities. You will operate with high autonomy, own the technical vision for your domain, and are expected to make the entire team more capable through your technical leadership, mentorship, and the standards you establish.

Key job responsibilities

• Own the technical architecture of the requirements and verification lifecycle for GNC software, defining the standards, templates, and processes for HLR development, LLR development, software architecture documentation, ICD authoring, and verification evidence generation in compliance with DO-178C DAL C objectives
• Lead development of High-Level Requirements (HLRs) derived from system-level requirements
• Lead development of Low-Level Requirements (LLRs), providing the detailed software design specifications that directly guide SW implementation
• Own software architecture documentation for GNC software components, defining component structure, data flows, state machines, scheduling, and interface specifications that satisfy DO-178C software design objectives
• Lead development of verification evidence including test cases and test procedures for requirements-based testing at HLR and LLR levels, ensuring all DO-178C DAL C verification objectives are satisfied and coverage is demonstrable
• Lead development of software tools in Python, MATLAB, or C/C++ to support simulation, test automation, coverage analysis, and verification reporting
• Proactively identify and resolve requirements and verification risks across the software lifecycle, escalating to leadership with clear mitigation plans before issues become certification blockers
• Communicate requirements and verification status clearly to senior leadership, the DER, and cross-functional stakeholders

Basic Qualifications

• Experience leading the design, automation, deployment, and support of large-scale infrastructure
• Experience programming with at least one modern language such as Python, Ruby, Golang, Java, C++, C#, Rust
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines build processes
• Bachelor's degree or above in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related fields
• 3+ years of direct experience developing software requirements (HLRs and LLRs), software architecture documentation, in a safety-critical or regulated engineering environment
• Demonstrated experience developing requirements-based test cases and test procedures, including traceability from requirements through test evidence, in a structured lifecycle environment
• 3+ years of direct experience with DO-178C at DAL C or higher, including authoring or reviewing lifecycle artifacts (HLRs, LLRs, test cases, test procedures, ICDs, architecture documents)

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline
• Experience owning the requirements and verification lifecycle for a DO-178C program at DAL C, including participation in SOI-2 (Development) and SOI-3 (Verification/Test) audits as the technical representative for requirements and verification artifacts
• Experience with model-based design (Simulink/Stateflow) for requirements capture, simulation, or qualified code generation
• Experience with autonomous systems, robotics, GNC algorithms, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• Familiarity with ARP4754A system-level development processes and the interface between system safety assessment and software requirements

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

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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, WA, Seattle - 151,200.00 - 204,600.00 USD annually