Solar Physics Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

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.
We are seeking a Solar Development Engineer to support the design, build, and test of next-generation solar array hardware. In this role, you will contribute to the development of solar power modules, wing structures, and array mechanical interfaces across multiple programs spanning production support through advanced technology development.
This is a broad hardware development role. You will work across the full spectrum of solar array hardware: mechanical design in CAD, structural and thermal analysis, prototype fabrication, environmental testing, and design-for-manufacturing activities. You will be hands-on with your hardware in the lab, and expected to develop depth across multiple aspects of array development as you grow. The ideal candidate brings strong engineering fundamentals and is motivated to learn rapidly in a fast-paced aerospace development environment.
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
• Mechanical Design: Design sub-components and components for solar array hardware including solar power modules (SPMs), wing structures, frames, brackets, and mechanical interfaces. Produce detailed CAD models and engineering drawings.
• Prototyping and Build: Support prototype fabrication, assembly, and hardware builds. Work with manufacturing and suppliers to translate designs into physical hardware, incorporating DFM and DFA principles.
• Testing: Support environmental and mechanical testing of array hardware including vibration, thermal cycling, deployment, and functional tests. Develop test procedures, fixtures, and documentation.
• Materials and Processes: Support materials selection, adhesive bonding processes, composite layup, and thin-film material characterization for array structures.
• Documentation: Produce quality engineering artifacts including design specifications, trade studies, test reports, assembly procedures, and design review packages.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with design engineers, scientists, manufacturing, test, and quality teams to support hardware delivery. Participate in design reviews and team planning discussions.
A day in the life
As a Solar Development Engineer, your work will span design, analysis, and hands-on lab activities. On a given day, you might be modeling in NX, supporting a trade study on a new concept, or assembling a prototype in the lab for an upcoming test. You will regularly collaborate with senior engineers on design decisions, work with manufacturing to resolve build issues, and support test campaigns that validate your designs. The role offers broad exposure to the full hardware development lifecycle, from concept sketches through flight hardware delivery. You are expected to be hands-on, curious, and comfortable shifting between design, analysis, and test activities as program needs evolve.
About the team
The Solar Design team owns the design, qualification, and technology development of the satellite solar array assembly, including solar power modules, secondary structures, and array-level interfaces. The team supports multiple concurrent programs from production satellites through next-generation array development and advanced R&D. You will work within the Mechanical Engineering organization alongside senior design engineers, scientists, and lab engineers focused on delivering high-performance, lightweight solar arrays for LEO constellation spacecraft. Tasks and priorities change rapidly, and you will take on new and exciting responsibilities as required to ensure project success.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of hardware design and validation of components, subsystems and systems experience
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, material science, physics or equivalent
- Experience with first-principles mechanical analysis (hand calculations, FEA, or thermal analysis) to evaluate hardware designs.
- Hands-on experience building, assembling, or testing mechanical hardware (prototypes, test articles, or production hardware).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with aerospace or space hardware development, including familiarity with qualification and acceptance testing approaches.
- Experience with composite materials, adhesive bonding, or thin-film material systems.
- Experience with environmental testing (vibration, thermal vacuum, thermal cycling) of mechanical hardware.
- Experience with structural FEA (Ansys, NASTRAN, or equivalent) or thermal analysis tools.
- Experience with scripting or data analysis tools (Python, MATLAB, or similar) for test data reduction or design automation.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to produce clear engineering documentation.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities across multiple concurrent programs.
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 - 96,600.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually