Optical Simulation Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Amazon LEO is an initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.
You will join a multi-discipline team responsible for development for optical satellites communication system. You will be responsible for the design, build, and verification of custom electro-mechanical optical test stations integrated into the manufacturing flow, supporting design validation testing (DVT), end-to-end (E2E) system verification, and root cause analysis (RCA) of optical and opto-mechanical failures.
Key job responsibilities
* Design, build, and qualify electro-mechanical optical test stations for manufacturing-line integration, supporting build, test, and volume production of optical intersatellite link systems.
* Develop and execute end-to-end (E2E) test architectures that simulate operational environments for electro-optical systems, validating performance across thermal cycling (TC) and thermal vacuum (TVAC) profiles.
* Define and implement design validation test (DVT) plans for optical and opto-mechanical assemblies, ensuring structural and optical stability under environmental stress.
* Conduct optical metrology including wavefront error, boresight alignment, radiometric calibration, and pointing accuracy during thermal transitions.
* Leverage PCBA-level electrical knowledge to identify and diagnose failures that originate at the board level, including connector intermittencies, solder joint reliability issues, signal degradation, and power integrity anomalies that impact optical system performance.
* Lead root cause analysis (RCA) for opto-mechanical and electrical failures, including performance degradation, thermal drift, and structural anomalies identified during environmental stress testing and manufacturing screening.
* Drive design corrective actions and feed findings back into hardware design, manufacturing processes, and test system improvements to increase first-pass yield (FPY).
* Develop measurement processes and procedures for volume manufacturing and transfer them to the production team, ensuring repeatability and FPY targets are met.
* Write Python/MATLAB/LabVIEW scripts to automate data acquisition, environmental control, instrument communication, and test data analysis.
* Analyze complex test datasets to identify performance trends, correlate optical and electrical failures to root causes, and develop optimal strategies for resolving technical problems in testing and manufacturing.
* Develop new and improve existing optical measurement methods and test station architectures to increase automation, robustness, and throughput for industrialization-grade production.
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.
A day in the life
You will tackle challenging, novel situations every day and have the opportunity to work with multiple technical teams at Amazon in different locations. You should be comfortable with a high degree of ambiguity and relish the idea of solving problems that haven't been solved at scale before. You will bridge hardware design and system integration to ensure optical payload performance in environments, while driving manufacturing test systems toward full automation and production readiness. Along the way, we guarantee that you will learn a lot, have fun and make a positive impact on millions of people.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or equivalent
- Experience demonstrating problem solving and root cause analysis
- 4+ years of industry experience in electro-optical or opto-mechanical systems development across full product life cycles, from concept to production
- Experience with lasers, detectors, modulators, optical fiber and devices, testing and characterization
- Experience with optical metrology for component and system test and qualification
- Direct experience running thermal cycling (TC) and/or thermal vacuum (TVAC) test profiles for high-precision optical or electro-mechanical systems
- Experience with end-to-end system-level testing in a manufacturing or production environment
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree or above in engineering, physics, or equivalent
- Experience leading and influencing your team or organization, or experience with general troubleshooting/debugging of hardware
- Experience leading technical initiatives and key deliverables
- Experience influencing senior leaders/stakeholders
- Experience that includes strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication abilities
- Experience with physical and geometric optics, Gaussian beam propagation and detection
- Experience with precision electro-mechanical optical assemblies, actuators, and pointing mechanisms
- Proficiency with automated testing, system characterization, and manufacturing test automation (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW)
- Experience with fiber optics components and handling of optical fiber
- Knowledge and experience with precision optical components and systems
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, Redmond - 117,300.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually