Senior Solar Hardware Engineer for LEO Satellite Arrays

Amazon; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Kuiper Manufacturing Enterprises LLC seeks a Sr. Aerospace Hardware Development Engineer to lead solar array hardware development for next‑gen LEO spacecraft. You will own DOE across modules, wing structures, and deployment interfaces while driving material selection and test campaigns.

The role requires hands-on hardware work, broad collaboration with power, structures, and manufacturing teams, and the ability to navigate ambiguous problems from requirements through qualification.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, materials science, physics or equivalent, or STEM experience.
• 5+ years of hardware development experience with demonstrated design, analysis, and qualification.
• Experience with lightweight structures, deployable systems, or precision mechanical assemblies in demanding environments.
• Experience driving hardware from concept through build, test, and qualification.
• Hands-on prototype fabrication, hardware builds, or lab testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, analysis, and qualification of solar array subsystems from concept through production readiness.
• Drive material selection and qualification for lightweight array structures, including adhesives and composites.
• Create CAD and engineering artifacts: geometry, schematics, ply schedules, materials, test methods.
• Develop validation campaigns including environmental testing and materials characterization.
• Perform structural, thermal, and durability analysis to verify design margins.
• Lead engagements with suppliers, cell vendors, and manufacturing partners.
• Collaborate with power systems, structures, thermal, mechanisms, manufacturing for interfaces.
• Lead design reviews and present trade-offs to leadership.

Skills

Hardware development

Deployable structures

Lightweight structures

Mechanical design

CAD / drafting

Prototype fabrication

Lead design/analysis/qualification

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Ansys

NASTRAN

CAD

Job description

Amazon Kuiper Manufacturing Enterprises LLC seeks a Sr. Aerospace Hardware Development Engineer to lead solar array hardware development for next‑gen LEO spacecraft. You will own DOE across modules, wing structures, and deployment interfaces while driving material selection and test campaigns.

The role requires hands-on hardware work, broad collaboration with power, structures, and manufacturing teams, and the ability to navigate ambiguous problems from requirements through qualification.