Senior Fluid Systems Engineer, Propulsion, Amazon Leo

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 the fluidic system and components which feed the thruster.

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
- Own the complete lifecycle of one or more propulsion subsystems from conceptual design through qualification, high-volume production, and on-orbit performance monitoring
- Solve complex mechanical and fluid system problems using first-principles analysis to drive design decisions and resolve ambiguity quickly
- 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
- Design pressurized fluid components: isolation valves, flow control valves, restrictors, tubing, and manifolds, with full accountability for performance and life
- Perform and own fluid system analysis: pressure drop, flow transients, thermal soak, and leakage across the full operating envelope
- 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 meeting high performance targets
- Plan and execute fluid system 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

Basic Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

- Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in aerospace or mechanical engineering, or related discipline
- Hands-on experience designing, building, and testing proportional flow control valves
- CAD software expertise (SolidWorks, NX, Creo, etc)
- Experience with tolerance analysis on precision assemblies
- Proficiency with Python or MATLAB for analysis & data visualization

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 - 137,300.00 - 185,700.00 USD annually