Production Liaison Engineer, Prime Air, Structures and Payload

Prime Air is Amazon's drone delivery service, using autonomous drones to safely deliver packages to customers in under an hour. Our mission is to build a safe, reliable, and efficient drone delivery system that transforms the way packages are delivered to customers worldwide.

To deliver on that mission, Amazon is looking for talented candidates who combine superb technical and analytical capabilities with a demonstrated ability to get the right things done quickly and effectively.

This is an onsite role based in Seattle, WA, with limited travel expected (approximately 10–15%). In this role, you'll join the Structures and Payload team under Drone Fleet and Production (DF&P) as a Production Liaison Engineer supporting the current fleet of vehicles in service. You will be responsible for ensuring a high degree of technical reliability within drone operations for Amazon fulfillment networks, working closely with design engineering staff and powering a flywheel of continuous improvement in the drone system. Partnering with the drone Structures and Payload team, you will provide engineering analyses and solutions to improve system reliability and performance. A successful candidate will leverage data-driven insights to identify opportunities and lead implementation of system improvements. Strong cross-functional engineering fundamentals (mechanical, electrical, software development basics) are essential, as well as strong technical communication and documentation skills. Your ability to translate complex system functions into digestible insights and summarize effectively with stakeholders at all levels will be critical to success in this role.

This position may require a deemed export control authorization for compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Placement is contingent on Amazon's ability to apply for and obtain an export control license on your behalf.

Key job responsibilities

• Investigate drone system performance for anomalies, deliver solutions to operations and maintenance team escalations
• Lead cross-functional system investigations with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to optimize drone system performance metrics, and drive improvements
• Develop innovative hardware designs for our emerging drone systems and improve existing hardware to optimize performance and enhance customer experience
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data-driven insights to establish benchmark standards and reduce operational burdens
• Work with the Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Quality organizations as well as vendors to ensure a smooth product launch and sustaining
• Develop and maintain documentation for technical procedures
• Communicate effectively across all organizational levels, presenting strategies and results to senior leadership and operational partners

A day in the life

As a Field Operations Engineer on the Prime Air team, you will be embedded with the Product Support Organization (PSO) serving as a the first line liaison between operator/maintainer experiences and design engineering improvements or mitigations. In this position, you will bring a unique perspective informed by direct operational data and customer feedback to spearhead system improvements, and address engineering problems discovered in the field. You will be a critical bridge between operations and design engineering.

About the team

The Structures and Payload team is responsible for the entire vehicle structure and systems that interface with the vehicle payload, and providing engineering support for the Assembly and Test organization. The Field Operations Engineers on this team are the direct link between production operations and design engineering, ensuring that design and reliability challenges are resolved quickly and fed back into the design process for continuous improvement.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent
• 4+ years of working in mechanical engineering or equivalent experience
• Experience in the design of complex mechanical products and equipment at volume

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent
• Knowledge of SolidWorks simulation or Ansys Finite Element analysis tools
• Experience communicating technical concepts and processes using clear, simple language and visuals
• Experience working effectively across cross-functional teams and partnering well with people at all levels within an organization
• Experience that includes strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication abilities
• Experience in a fast paced, dynamic organization

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, Seattle - 117,300.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually