Test Engineering Manager, Spacecraft Mechanical, Kuiper Solar/Mechanism

Job description

Description
Project Kuiper is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite broadband network.

Its mission is to deliver fast, reliable internet to customers and communities around the world, and we’ve designed the system with the capacity, flexibility, and performance to serve a wide range of customers, from individual households to schools, hospitals, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations operating in locations 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.

Project Kuiper seeks an experienced Test Engineering Manager to lead our Mechanical Test Development team, designing advanced test infrastructure for satellite mechanical systems.

This hands-on leadership role requires a self-starter with deep technical expertise in mechatronics, automation, and space flight hardware testing, focusing on developing bespoke solutions for solar arrays, mechanisms, and structural components.

The ideal candidate will push to develop innovative test approaches, rapidly generate reliable data, and collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams to support comprehensive hardware development and qualification processes.

Key job responsibilities
• Lead and manage a test development engineering team for satellite hardware, driving technical strategy and innovation in test methodologies for Solar Arrays, Mechanisms, and Structural Systems.
• Oversee comprehensive test planning, design, and execution, ensuring rigorous characterization and validation of spaceflight hardware through advanced testing techniques and cross-functional collaboration.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship, guiding engineers in developing best practices for mechanical testing, design optimization, and performance assessment of satellite subsystems.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, and resource allocations while maintaining compliance with aerospace standards and delivering cost-effective, high-reliability solutions.
• Conduct design reviews, risk assessments, and root cause investigations to continuously improve testing processes, hardware performance, and overall mission readiness for satellite constellation development.
• You will lead by example by developing a strong understanding of the flight hardware and its test systems as well as contribute to hiring, mentoring, and career growth of the engineers on your team.

A day in the life
As a Project Kuiper Test Development Engineering Manager, you will lead your team to develop automated test equipment used to validate satellite hardware designs from initial prototypes, though functional testing, and into pilot production.

You will drive collaboration with design, analysis, and manufacturing teams to specify test equipment requirements, develop test plans, and execute test campaigns to support development and production test initiatives.

The ideal candidate is self-motivated and comfortable operating in a fast-paced development environment.

About the team
This team is organized within the satellite mechanical design team to accelerate the design iteration process and ensure on-time delivery of the most stable and successful product possible.

The tasks and daily focus change rapidly, and you will often take on new and exciting responsibilities as required to ensure project success.

Expect to be deployed to complex problems and novel technical challenges that push you to develop new skills.

You’ll be constantly looking for ways to improve your product’s performance, quality and cost.
Basic Qualifications
- 7+ years of new hardware products development experience
- Experience with the project management of technical projects
- 3+ years of engineering team management experience
- Bachelor's degree or above in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, material science, physics or equivalent, or Bachelor's degree or equivalent and 1+ years of professional or military experience
- 5+ years of experience developing test infrastructure to meet the needs of testing space craft or similarly complex systems.
- 5+ years of experience with automating hardware testing or developing controls software using Python, LabVIEW, Test Stand, or similar
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Power Engineering, or a related field
- Knowledge of AWS or cloud technologies
- Experience developing products for large volume production
- Experience managing teams of 8+ engineers
- Experience communicating with users, other technical teams, and management to collect requirements, describe software product features, and technical designs
- Experience with integration and testing of satellite hardware.
- Experience in development of test plans and protocols related to established Space Hardware test processes (GEVS / SMC-S-016 / MIL-STD-810)
- Attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records and documentation.

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.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets.

The base pay for this position ranges from $135,900/year in our lowest geographic market up to $234,900/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 https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits .

This position will remain posted until filled.

Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.

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