Propulsion Test Engineer, Propulsion Production Engineering, Amazon Leo

Amazon • Redmond, WA

3d

About The Position

Amazon Leo is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Its mission is to bring fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Amazon Leo will help close the digital divide by delivering fast, affordable broadband to a wide range of customers, including consumers, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity.

The Amazon Leo Propulsion Production Team is seeking a Test Engineer to support the development and continued optimization of propulsion flight hardware production test capabilities to support this constellation. The team is responsible for the design, build, maintenance, and optimization of electric propulsion production testing of all propulsion subsystems, including the Hall-Effect thruster, cathode, propellant feed system, avionics, propellant storage, and integrated propulsion system.

You will develop and design new test capabilities as well as improve existing test frameworks and processes in order to ensure the needed test coverage is achieved at increasing production rates. This will include hardware automation and test software optimization of existing systems, buildup of additional systems for parallel testing, and performing and utilizing development testing to inform methods of accelerating production testing and improving screening. You will also contribute to finding solutions to challenging problems by investigating root causes for hardware failures as well as trading process methodologies, schedule constraints, and test coverage in order to enable increased production rates to be obtained.

You'll design automated test solutions for electric propulsion hardware, optimize test processes to increase production rates, ensure hardware meets qualification and acceptance requirements for flight, and investigate complex hardware and software issues. You'll work hands-on with Hall-Effect thrusters, propellant feed systems, and integrated propulsion assemblies while collaborating with design engineers, quality teams, and production staff. Success requires high motivation, attention to detail, and the highest standards of execution. Your work will directly enable production of thousands of satellites bringing connectivity to underserved communities worldwide.

The Amazon Leo Propulsion Production Team is responsible for the manufacturing, assembly, and acceptance testing of electric propulsion flight hardware for all propulsion subsystems, including Hall-Effect thrusters, cathodes, propellant feed systems, avionics, propellant storage, and integrated propulsion systems. We work closely with the Amazon Leo Propulsion Development Team to enable rapid process feedback and continuous improvement. This close collaboration between production and development teams ensures we can quickly iterate on manufacturing processes, test methodologies, and production capabilities to meet the demands of building a satellite constellation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or an equivalent field
• 3+ years developing automation, data acquisition, or control software
• 3+ years experience with electrical test equipment and data acquisition systems
• 3+ years of developing or optimizing manufacturing or test processes
• 3+ years investigating hardware failures or performing root cause analysis
• 2+ years experience with pressurized fluid and/or plasma-based system operations

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing test and data acquisition software with Python, NI LabVIEW, or NI TestStand
• Experience testing Hall-Effect thruster-based propulsion systems or their subsystems
• Experience developing and operating pressurized fluid systems in aerospace environments
• Experience developing and improving manufacturing test processes in a high-rate production environment
• Experience dispositioning and investigating root causes of aerospace flight hardware nonconformances

Responsibilities

• Define and implement solutions to optimize and automate electric propulsion system testing
• Develop test automation, data acquisition, and data analysis hardware and software to improve test efficiency and cycle times
• Perform root cause investigations to understand hardware and test failures and disposition flight hardware non-conformances
• Work with hardware subsystem owners to ensure test coverage is maintained across multiple development and flight hardware design update cycles
• Perform development testing and data analysis to inform methods of accelerating existing testing without reducing hardware screening capabilities
• Work with other engineers to refine test requirements and the methodologies to test against those requirements
• Train operators in the execution of developed testing and processes

Benefits

• 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
• parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level