As System Engineering Lead, you will drive the technical direction for our next-generation wired networking hardware. You will work with our Product team to align business requirements and industrial design with cost, manufacturability, and technical feasibility constraints. You'll collaborate with electrical engineers owning different hardware sub-systems (networking ASICs, Ethernet PHYs, PoE controllers, power, and SFP module interfaces) and ensure their successful integration into the overall system. Working closely with mechanical engineers, you'll optimize component placement, thermal management, and reliability requirements for rack-mount and desktop form factors. You'll also partner with our software teams to ensure hardware capabilities are fully accessible to customers through simple setup and management interfaces.
Key job responsibilities
In this role, you will:
- Define hardware system architecture and technical requirements for multi-gigabit Ethernet switches, high-port-count PoE PSEs, and wired router/gateway products across rack-mount and desktop form factors
- Drive hardware platform decisions, including selection and integration of networking ASICs, Ethernet PHYs, SFP module interfaces, PoE solutions, power architecture, and thermal management strategy
- Develop and maintain technical documentation across the wired networking product line, including hardware architecture documents, system functional specifications, and performance requirement specifications
- Lead technical design reviews, participate in board bring-up and signal integrity optimization for new designs, and drive resolution of complex system-level issues
- Define design and test strategies to achieve system-level validation requirements, functional certifications (Ethernet, PoE, etc.) and regulatory compliance (EMI/EMC, safety)
- Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across multiple wired networking programs
- Support manufacturing teams during NPI and the transition to mass production
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
- 8+ years of experience in system-level hardware design for wired networking products (managed Ethernet switches, routers, linecards, or gateway/firewall appliances)
- 5+ years of experience as a hardware technical lead, driving hardware designs from architecture definition through bring-up, debug, and production readiness
- Direct experience with networking ASIC or packet processor integration (Broadcom, Marvell, or equivalent)
- Experience with high-speed serial interface design and SerDes tuning, including PCB signal integrity review and stack-up optimization for multi-gigabit designs
- Understanding of PoE system design (802.3af/at/bt) and power delivery architectures for platforms with 24 or more Ethernet ports
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to write functional specifications and hardware validation plans
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in a related technical field
- Experience with enterprise or campus-class networking products
- Experience with ODM/JDM hardware development models (writing system specifications, managing contract manufacturers, reviewing vendor designs)
- Proficiency with signal integrity and power integrity simulation tools (Sigrity/PowerDC, SIwave, HyperLynx, or equivalent)
- Experience with thermal management for high-power rack-mount enclosures (PoE power budgets of 500W+, forced-air cooling)
- Experience designing optical transceiver interfaces (SFP+/SFP28), including high-speed signal routing to cage assemblies, thermal derating considerations, and module management
- Familiarity with EMI/EMC compliance requirements, safety certification (UL/IEC 62368-1), and relevant IEEE and IPC standards
- Design for manufacturability expertise for complex PCBs (20+ layers), including experience with sustaining support and root cause analysis
- Track record of delivering complex networking products from concept to production (at least two full product development cycles leading to a successful launch)
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 Francisco - 157,900.00 - 213,600.00 USD annually