Amazon Leo is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). 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 Propulsion Lab Engineer will be a key member of Amazon Leo's Propulsion Manufacturing team, combining deep technical expertise with strong collaborative skills. This role will lead the development and optimization of electric propulsion manufacturing infrastructure while working across engineering disciplines. The ideal candidate will drive technical solutions for manufacturing challenges, implement process controls, and maintain critical lab equipment, while effectively partnering with Design, Quality, Systems, and Test engineers to translate requirements into robust manufacturing processes. Success in this role requires both hands-on technical leadership and the ability to facilitate cross-functional collaboration to achieve manufacturing excellence.
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.
Key job responsibilities
• Support in the build and development of Mfg./Test hardware and fixtures, including component/subsystem fabrication (machining, 3D printing, rapid prototyping)
• Define standard operation procedures (SOPs) for both Mfg./Test equipment
• Interpret and follow engineering documentation including solid models, detailed drawings, schematics, equipment specifications, test procedures, and SOPs
• Work with Responsible Engineers and Mfg. Engineers to diagnose and solve issues resulting in yield and throughput improvements
• Own Test team calibration process involving (but not limited to) equipment intake, schedule, tracking, swapping of equipment while coordinating between teams to ensure minimal impact to production
• Develop & maintain Test team tool program for development and production stations
• Collaborate with Amazon Leo facility team and support preventative maintenance for development & production test chambers
• Support with Propulsion lab organization and floor space layout
• Actively monitor Mfg/Test infrastructure, equipment health, station status, and process performance — proactively identifying and actioning issues that could impact efficiency, throughput, and/or overall health of the department before they escalate into production blockers
• Operate shop tools and lab equipment effectively and safely
• Conduct environmental and reliability testing of components, subsystems, and devices
• Execute hardware rework tasks as needed
• Apply basic scripting, coding, and/or automation to support lab tasks
• Clearly communicate status, issues, and blockers to your team and cross-functional partners
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.
Candidates must be 18 years or older with the ability to understand and adhere to all job requirements and safety guidelines.
The starting pay for this role in Washington State is up to $42/hour and employees are eligible for incremental raises based on tenure. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits are provided. This information is provided per the Washington State Pay Transparency Act. Base pay information is based on market location. Applicants should apply via Amazon's internal or external careers site.
A day in the life
The Propulsion Lab Engineer will perform a variety of tasks involving support for both Mfg and Test infrastructure and executing on these actions. Lab Engineers will work closely with both Technicians and Responsible Engineers to identify process improvements to improve both Mfg and Test efficiency and optimization. Lab Engineer will actively monitor Mfg/Test infrastructure with intent to proactively action issues that could impact the efficiency and/or overall health of the department.
A successful candidate thrives in a fast-paced, production environment and is able to apply their technical expertise and commitment for quality to positively impact team metrics and organization goals. To be successful they will need to be highly motivated and detail oriented while showing the highest standards of execution.
About the team
The Amazon Leo Propulsion Manufacturing Team is responsible for the design, development and testing of the propulsion system which provides maneuvering capability to the spacecraft. The Propulsion Team is made up of a variety of sub-teams which are responsible for various aspects of the development process, such as mechanical design, systems engineering, subject matter experts, manufacturing, and test. This integrated team structure allows direct communication and rapid process feedback while also promoting close collaboration across the team.
Basic Qualifications
- Experience planning and maintaining lab facilities for optimal efficiency and creating new processes when necessary
- Experience in hardware design and validation of components, subsystems and systems
- Associate's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent experience
- 2+ years working in a high-volume production environment
- 2+ years of relevant hardware manufacturing/testing experience
- 2+ years contributing to documentation and procedures
- 2+ years hands-on work experience with precision calibrated test equipment
- Experience planning and maintaining lab facilities for optimal efficiency and creating new processes when necessary
- Basic knowledge of propulsion system components and/or spacecraft hardware
- Basic understanding of electro-mechanical systems (e.g., motors, controllers, sensors)
- Familiarity with lab tools, equipment, and processes relevant to the role
- Proficiency in reading and interpreting engineering documentation
- Ability to complete hardware rework, prototype fabrication, and/or component testing per documentation
- Basic understanding of fabrication techniques and material properties (strength, surface finish, tolerances)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in quality assurance engineering
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or other STEM discipline
- Experience working with vacuum and/or pressurized gas systems
- Experience with test execution software such as TestStand, LabView, and Python
- Experience with environmental and reliability testing of production hardware, particularly for space environments
- Experience building up test racks and testing infrastructure
- Experience with tube fabrication and orbital tube welding (OTW)
- Experience scheduling and delivering of high impact test infrastructure scope
- Experience working with FOD, ESD sensitive hardware and clean room requirements
- 2+ years experience owning end-to-end calibration program management and equipment tracking systems
- Familiarity with 3D printing, machining, or rapid prototyping techniques
- Experience independently authoring and maintaining SOPs, work instructions, or test procedures
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
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 - 39.00 - 69.00 USD hourly
