Mechanical Engineer, Satellite Hardware

Amazon Leo is Amazons 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.

The Leo Mechanical Engineering organization is looking for early-career mechanical engineers who want to design build test and deliver hardware for a large-scale satellite constellation.

Our mechanical engineering teams own hardware across the spacecraft lifecycle from early concepts and architecture through detailed design analysis prototyping qualification manufacturing and flight. Engineers work directly with hardware and collaborate across electrical thermal RF reliability manufacturing software and operations teams to solve multidisciplinary engineering problems.

This role is intended for engineers early in their careers who have a strong foundation in mechanical engineering fundamentals are curious about how things work and want to develop broad spacecraft hardware experience. Depending on background interests and business needs engineers may work in spacecraft structures avionics packaging harnessing solar arrays mechanisms test development or manufacturing process development.

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
- 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.

- Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent
- Experience in engineering
- Experience in 3D CAD
- Experience in hardware design
- Experience communicating technical concepts and processes using clear simple language and visuals

- 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.

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 for more information. If the country/region youre applying in isnt 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 WA Redmond - 96600.00 - 160000.00 USD annually