Lab Engineer II, Mechatronics and Sustainable Packaging

Overview

Join Amazon's Global Materials Science (GMS) organization as a Lab Engineer and be part of pioneering sustainable e-commerce packaging. In this hands‑on role, you'll conduct materials testing and characterization that directly supports the development of breakthrough packaging materials. You'll work in state‑of‑the‑art laboratories, operating advanced testing equipment, executing experiments, and generating critical data that enables our team to make informed decisions about materials that touch millions of customer experiences daily.

• Materials Testing & Characterization:
  • Conduct hands‑on testing using equipment including tensile testers, burst testers, tear testers, rheometers, and other materials characterization tools.
  • Execute test protocols following TAPPI, ASTM, ISO, ISTA standards and internal developed methods.
  • Perform testing on packaging materials (paper substrates, adhesives, coatings, alternative fiber materials).
  • Operate and maintain laboratory equipment, ensuring proper calibration and functionality.
  • Prepare test specimens and store them according to SOPs.
  • Identify, recommend, and help implement improved lab processes for the team.
• Data Collection & Analysis:
  • Collect, organize, and document experimental data with high accuracy.
  • Analyze test results, identify trends or anomalies in materials performance.
  • Generate clear test reports summarizing findings.
  • Support data‑driven decision making with reliable test results.
• Laboratory Operations:
  • Follow SOPs and work instructions for all testing activities.
  • Maintain a safe, clean, organized lab environment.
  • Participate in safety programs and equipment maintenance schedules.
  • Assist in inventory management of lab supplies and test materials.
  • Identify opportunities to improve testing efficiency and data quality.
• Cross‑Functional Support:
  • Collaborate with Advanced Materials Engineers and scientists on experimental design.
  • Communicate test results, status updates, and blockers to team members.
  • Support supplier qualification activities by testing vendor samples.
  • Assist with sample preparation and testing for field trials and deployment validation.
  • Participate in team meetings and contribute to project planning discussions.
• Documentation & Continuous Improvement:
  • Contribute to development and refinement of test procedures and SOPs.
  • Document experimental procedures, observations, and results clearly.
  • Identify and recommend improvements to testing methods and lab processes.
  • Learn and apply materials science principles to interpret test results.
  • Seek feedback and continuously develop technical skills and domain knowledge.
• Work Environment:
  • Primarily laboratory‑based with hands‑on equipment operation.
  • Standard lab safety protocols and PPE requirements.
  • Occasional lifting of materials/equipment up to 50 lbs, standing, walking, kneeling.
  • Collaborative team environment with frequent interaction with scientists and engineers.

Your day starts in the lab preparing test specimens—cutting paper samples to precise dimensions and conditioning them in the environmental chamber. You're supporting a critical adhesive development project, and today's testing will determine if the new formulation meets performance requirements. Mid‑morning, you're running tensile and burst tests on paper samples, carefully following the test protocol and recording data in real‑time. The results look interesting—you notice the tear strength is higher than previous samples and flag this for the materials engineer leading the project.

After lunch, you're operating the rheometer to characterize viscosity profiles of new hot melt adhesive samples from three different suppliers. You meticulously document the temperature ramps and flow behavior, knowing this data will directly inform sourcing decisions. Your afternoon includes calibrating equipment, organizing test data into clear summary reports, and preparing samples for tomorrow's environmental conditioning tests. You also participate in a team meeting where you present your week's testing results—your data shows one supplier's material consistently outperforms the others.

This is hands‑on work that matters.

The tests…