Hardware Development Specialist - Machining, 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 will serve people and organizations operating in locations without reliable connectivity.

At Amazon Leo, the Development Operations team sits at the center of satellite hardware development - building the labs, tools, and infrastructure that turn engineering concepts into testable hardware. We are looking for an experienced machinist to establish and lead our development machine shop, shaping the equipment, processes, and fabrication capabilities that will help us build and test satellite hardware at pace.

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
- Program, set up, and operate 3, 4, and 5-axis machining centers, manual mills, manual lathes, bandsaws, and waterjet; own the full workflow from engineering drawing to finished part
- Prove out new part programs and maintain revision control for programs, tooling, and setups
- Perform dimensional inspections using micrometers, calipers, height gauges, and on-machine probing
- Lead standup of the development machine shop - equipment selection, layout, tooling library, maintenance schedules, and safety standards
- Evaluate and recommend new machines, tooling, and fixtures; support procurement decisions
- Stay in tune with active development programs to prioritize shop work and make smart calls on what to run in-house versus send to outside vendors
- Provide early DFM/DFMA input to engineering teams during design and participate in design reviews as the manufacturing voice on the team
- Serve as the team's go-to machining resource; mentor Dev Ops teammates on foundational shop skills and build work instructions that allow the team to handle basic tasks independently

About the team
The Development Operations (Dev Ops) team is a tight-knit, cross-functional group that directly enables Kuiper's hardware development. We build and maintain the labs, tools, fixtures, and infrastructure that allow engineering teams to design, prototype, and test satellite hardware  are collaborative by nature - everyone rolls up their sleeves when the team needs it, and we actively share skills across disciplines.

We are looking for people who thrive in a fast-paced, start-up-like environment and who find energy in solving hard problems with a small, highly capable team.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience planning and maintaining lab facilities for optimal efficiency and creating new processes when necessary
- 10+ years of machine shop experience operating CNC equipment (multi-axis mills, lathes, routers)
- 8+ years of CAM programming experience
- 10+ years of experience with GD&T principles and engineering drawing interpretation
- 5+ years of experience machining tight-tolerance, high-value components
- Demonstrated ability to own the full part manufacturing workflow: from drawing interpretation and programming through setup, operation, and inspection

- Experience with a range of materials: aluminum, stainless steels, titanium, nickel-based alloys

- Experience with dimensional inspection using micrometers, calipers, height gauges, and on-machine probing
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and respond to shifting demands in a fast-paced environment
- Clear, effective communication with engineers and non-machining teammates
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS- 15+ years of hands-on machining experience in a prototype, R&D, or aerospace manufacturing environment
- Experience standing up or significantly improving a machine shop or fabrication area
- Experience advising engineering teams on DFMA or participating in design reviews
- Mechanical inspection experience using a portable CMM or FARO Arm
- Experience managing shop workload across multiple projects with competing priorities and tight timelines
- Proficiency in Siemens NX Manufacturing or comparable CAM software (Mastercam, Fusion 360, etc.)

- Experience with mill-turn and large-format 5-axis machining centers
- Familiarity with Okuma and Fanuc NC controllers

- Experience with program verification software such as Vericut
- Exposure to automating or templating programming processes for repeat part families
- Experience in aerospace, defense, or advanced hardware development environments
- Familiarity with AS9100 Quality Management System
- Experience mentoring technicians or engineers on machining and fabrication skills

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

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