We are seeking a Senior Prototyping Engineer to join our Prototyping and Integration (PI) Team. In this role, you will serve as the machine shop's principal technical authority on advanced prototype manufacturing-owning the most complex, highest-risk aerospace builds end-to-end and setting the machining strategy, standards, and processes that the entire lab operates by. You will drive CNC programming, setup, and production of the most challenging precision electro-mechanical components, define how difficult parts get made before anyone touches a machine, and partner with design and manufacturing engineering at the earliest stages to influence hardware design for manufacturability, cost, and schedule.
Beyond executing individual builds, you will shape the capability and direction of the prototyping function: establishing shop-wide processes and standards, mentoring and technically leading other machinists and prototyping engineers, and driving continuous improvement initiatives that scale throughput and reliability across the organization. You will be trusted to make independent technical judgment calls on ambiguous, first-of-their-kind parts, to balance competing program priorities across the shop, and to raise the bar on machining quality and velocity for the whole team. This role requires deep, expert-level hands-on CNC expertise, strong process and program ownership, sound engineering judgment under ambiguity, and the ability to lead through influence in a fast-paced development environment.
Key job responsibilities
- Own the most complex, highest-risk aerospace prototype builds end-to-end on multi-axis mills, lathes, and mill-turn equipment-and serve as the shop's escalation point for the parts no one else can make to print.
- Define the lab's advanced machining strategy-CAM approaches, fixturing philosophy, and process sequencing-and standardize it so the whole team can execute with quality and repeatability at scale.
- Partner with design engineering early in the design cycle to drive design-for-manufacturability and influence decisions before they are finalized.
- Set machining quality and throughput standards across the shop and lead continuous improvement initiatives, owning them to conclusion to measurably increase throughput and reduce cycle time.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to machinists and prototyping engineers, raising the capability of the team.
- Make independent technical judgment calls on ambiguous, first-of-their-kind parts, balancing risk, cost, quality, and schedule across multiple concurrent programs.
- Troubleshoot complex quality issues and drive corrective actions to root cause, building lasting process fixes rather than one-off corrections.
A day in the life
You'll spend much of your day at the machines cutting the most demanding aerospace prototypes-and serving as the person the team turns to when a part is too complex, tight, or novel to make any other way. Between builds, you'll review incoming designs for manufacturability, define shop standards, mentor other engineers, and drive improvement initiatives. When a test team is waiting on critical hardware, you'll make the call on how to deliver quickly without compromising quality, and own the outcome.
About the team
The Prototyping and Integration Team accelerates hardware development through rapid prototyping, manufacturing, and integration of novel Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) and systems for the Optical Intersatellite Link organization. Our service areas span Hardware Fabrication, Electrical Integration, Electromechanical Hardware Development, DVT and Qualification Testing, and Quality Assurance. Our learnings are directly applied to scale aerospace manufacturing processes and enable risk reduction through comprehensive testing. We seek candidates who thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments. Success requires high motivation, attention to detail, and the highest standards of execution.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or an equivalent field
- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
- 10+ years machine shop experience operating complex CNC equipment machining precision aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability hardware
- Expert-level knowledge of HyperMILL, ESPRIT, or equivalent CAM systems, including multi-axis (5-axis and mill-turn) programming of complex geometry
- Expert knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
- 4+ years overseeing continuous improvement initiatives by establishing processes and showing ownership over those areas to conclusion
- Must be able to visually inspect and distinguish fine detail in precision optical/mechanical components
- Must be able to frequently move lab equipment and materials weighing up to 40 pounds
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Deep manufacturing process knowledge across coatings, heat treating, and other finishing processes, and the ability to design process routings that account for them
- Experience defining machining strategy and fixturing philosophy for first-of-their-kind or one-off prototype parts with no established process
- Expert experience using Siemens NX, or other CAD systems, including modifying models and designing fixtures/tooling
- Demonstrated success driving design-for-manufacturability upstream with design engineering to influence hardware design decisions
- Experience establishing a machine shop's documentation, standards, or process control systems from the ground up
- Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across engineering disciplines and to represent the prototyping function to leadership
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, CA, NORTHRIDGE - 136,900.00 - 185,200.00 USD annually
