Senior Mechanical Engineer, Leo Propulsion

Amazon • Redmond, WA

3d

About The Position

Amazon Leo is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite network. Our mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet connectivity to customers beyond the reach of existing networks. From individual households to schools, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies, Amazon Leo serves people and organizations operating in locations without reliable connectivity.

As a mechanical engineer within the propulsion team you will own the end-to-end lifecycle of propulsion hardware from first-principles concept through high-volume production and on-orbit operation. You will combine analytical rigor with build-and-test ownership to produce hardware that is lightweight, cost-effective, and performs consistently at scale. This is a hands-on role which requires collaboration across functional boundaries to develop thrusters, cathodes, fluidic components, and system packaging.

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.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent
• 7+ years of technical engineering experience
• Experience in the design of complex mechanical products and equipment at volume
• Experience with qualification testing of space-grade hardware

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related discipline
• Experience designing, building, and testing electric propulsion subsystems such as Hall effect thrusters, cathode assemblies, discharge channels, or ion engines
• CAD software expertise (SoldiWorks, NX, Creo, etc)
• Experience with tolerance analysis on precision assemblies
• Experience with structural analysis
• Experience with thermal analysis
• Proficiency with Python or MATLAB for test data analysis and life model development

Responsibilities

• Own the complete lifecycle of one or more propulsion subsystems from conceptual design through qualification, high-volume production, and on-orbit performance monitoring
• Design and analyze plasma-facing mechanical components: emitter assembles, orifice plates, keeper electrodes, and thermal management packaging, with full accountability for performance and life
• Develop design criteria, collaborate on requirements, and lead system-level trade studies. Rapidly iterate on designs and analysis to inform high level trades and steer product development
• Produce complete design documentation - drawings, tolerance analyses, and test plans - at a level of detail that drives qualification & production without ambiguity
• Apply DFMA practices to minimize part counts and process steps while while meeting high performance targets
• Plan and execute vacuum chamber tests, performance characterization, and environmental qualification to validate analytical models and demonstrate compliance
• Lead root cause investigations for hardware failures and non-conformances; owning corrective action through closure
• Work cross-functionally with experts in plasma physics, avionics, thermal, structures, and materials as an accountable technical partner across the full product lifecycle

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
• sign-on payments
• restricted stock units (RSUs)

What This Job Offers

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