Mechanical Engineer, Satellite Hardware

Amazon Inc.; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 97,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Kuiper Manufacturing Enterprises LLC is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design and validate hardware for the Leo program in Redmond, WA. You will create 3D models, drawings, and specifications, and you will work with technicians, suppliers, and engineers to build, test, and qualify hardware for production and flight.

The role requires 2+ years in hardware design, a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, and strong CAD skills.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hardware design and validation of components, subsystems and systems experience.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, material science, physics or equivalent.
• Experience in 3D CAD.
• Experience communicating technical concepts and processes using clear, simple language and visuals.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical hardware, assemblies, fixtures, or test equipment using engineering fundamentals and sound design practices.
• Create and release 3D models, drawings, specifications, and other engineering documentation.
• Perform engineering analyses and calculations to support design decisions and verify performance.
• Work with technicians, machinists, manufacturing engineers, suppliers, and partners to build and evaluate hardware.
• Develop and execute engineering tests to characterize hardware, validate designs, and investigate failures.
• Participate in design reviews and communicate decisions, risks, and tradeoffs to multidisciplinary teams.
• Apply DFMA principles to improve manufacturability, reliability, cost, and production scalability.
• Troubleshoot hardware issues using data, testing, and first-principles engineering.
• Support hardware from early prototype development through qualification, production, and flight.

Skills

Hardware design

3D CAD

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, material science, physics or equivalent

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

Job description

Job ID: 10566934 | Amazon Kuiper Manufacturing Enterprises LLC

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 will serve people and organizations operating in locations without reliable connectivity.

Key job responsibilities

• Design mechanical hardware, assemblies, fixtures, or test equipment using engineering fundamentals and sound design practices.
• Create and release 3D models, drawings, specifications, and other engineering documentation.
• Perform engineering analysis and calculations to support design decisions and verify performance.
• Work directly with technicians, machinists, manufacturing engineers, suppliers, and other partners to build and evaluate hardware.
• Develop and execute engineering tests to characterize hardware, validate designs, and investigate failures.
• Participate in design reviews and communicate technical decisions, risks, and tradeoffs to multidisciplinary teams.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing and Assembly principles to improve hardware manufacturability, reliability, cost, and production scalability.
• Troubleshoot hardware issues using data, testing, and first‑principles engineering.
• Support hardware from early prototype development through qualification, production, and flight.
• Develop increasing technical ownership of hardware and engineering decisions as experience grows.

A day in the life

There is no single typical day for a mechanical engineer on the team. You might begin the morning reviewing test data from hardware tested overnight, then update a CAD model based on what you learned. Later, you could work alongside a technician assembling a prototype, perform a hand calculation or finite element analysis to evaluate a design change, or meet with electrical and thermal engineers to resolve competing packaging requirements.

You may spend the afternoon in the lab troubleshooting hardware, preparing for a design review, working with a supplier on a manufacturing issue, or developing a fixture to test a new design.

Our engineers are expected to move comfortably between analysis, design, hardware, and data. The goal is not simply to produce drawings or calculations, but to understand the hardware, make sound engineering decisions, and help carry those decisions through to a successful product.

About the team

The Leo Mechanical Engineering organization designs, develops, tests, and industrializes the hardware that enables our satellite constellation. Our teams span spacecraft structures and integration, avionics packaging, harnessing, solar arrays, mechanisms, test development, and manufacturing process development. Engineers work across disciplines and throughout the full product lifecycle, from early concepts and prototypes through qualification, production, launch, and on‑orbit operation. We combine deep technical expertise with strong hardware ownership and rapid iteration, giving engineers the opportunity to solve challenging multidisciplinary problems while seeing their designs progress from an idea to flight hardware.

Basic Qualifications

• 2+ years of hardware design and validation of components, subsystems and systems experience
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, material science, physics or equivalent
• Experience in 3D CAD
• Experience communicating technical concepts and processes using clear, simple language and visuals

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of engineering practices and patterns for the full software/hardware/networks development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, certification, and livesite operations
• Experience with hardware/software integration and real‑time systems
• Hands‑on experience building mechanical systems through internships, laboratory work, Formula SAE, rocketry, robotics, CubeSat, machining, personal projects, or similar activities.
• Experience with CAD and Product Lifecycle Management tools such as Siemens NX and Teamcenter.
• Familiarity with engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and mechanical design best practices.
• Familiarity with structural mechanics, dynamics, thermal environments, materials, mechanisms, electronics packaging, or manufacturing processes.
• Experience developing or executing engineering tests and interpreting test data.
• Experience with Python, MATLAB, or other engineering analysis and automation tools.
• Understanding of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly principles.
• Demonstrated ability to learn unfamiliar technical subjects, work through ambiguous problems, and use first‑principles reasoning to develop practical engineering solutions.

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status. Veterans, military spouses, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

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, Redmond - 96,600.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually