Senior Mechanical Engineer – Spacecraft Design, Bus Structures

Senior Mechanical Engineer – Spacecraft Design, Bus Structures

Job ID: | Amazon Kuiper Manufacturing Enterprises LLC

Project Kuiper 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. Project Kuiper 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.
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.
We're looking for a Senior Structural/Mechanical Engineer with a background in space vehicle designs and electro-mechanical systems integration. The ideal candidate has experience making major optimization trades for satellite bus architectures including integration with payload subsystems. This is a hands-on role for a highly collaborative individual that combines superb technical and analytical capabilities to convert analytic trade studies to a qualified physical vehicle, while optimizing for high volume production and meeting cross discipline requirements. The candidate will design, analyze, and test satellite primary and secondary structures while ensuring all requirements are met.
Key job responsibilities
- Perform mechanical design and layout trade studies for satellite primary structure contributing to overall system architecture including inputs and requirements from cross discipline teams - Electrical, RF, Thermal, Dynamics, Mechanisms, Materials, Manufacturing, Assembly, and Test.
- Generate detailed designs via CAD systems and engineering drawings with appropriate geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
- Conduct or oversee static, dynamic and modal structural analysis via finite element methods as needed to support design work.
- Deliver an efficient structural design capable of high volume production throughput (DFMA)
- Documentation and presentation of materials for technical design reviews
- Design and support test campaigns, both development and qualification/acceptance, for space hardware

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s degree in Structural or Mechanical Engineering or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
- 6+ years of experience including significant time designing structural systems for aerospace.
- 4+ years of experience with structural materials and processes including metals, composites, bonded and bolted joints.
- 3+ years of experience in structural sizing including classical methods (hand calculations) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of primary and secondary structures.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Advance degree (Master’s or PhD) in structural or mechanical engineering or related discipline
- CAD expertise (Siemens NX or equivalent, NX Teamcenter, GD&T per ASME y14.5)
- Finite element analysis skills – (FEMAP/NASTRAN or equivalent)
- Experience supporting development and qualification test campaigns of space/flight hardware
- Experience with common spacecraft subsystems: Power Systems (Solar Arrays, Batteries), Electric propulsion system integration, Secondary structures, Avionics assemblies, harnessing, ADCS elements and placement implications, Payload subsystems integration, Deployables, Release mechanisms, Moving mechanical assemblies, Thermal control systems and sizing (materials, finishes, MLI, HPAs, radiators), LV Interfaces.
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 you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $128,600/year in our lowest geographic market up to $213,600/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit . This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability or other legally protected status.