Field Operations Engineer, Prime Air, Structures and Payload

About the role

Prime Air is Amazon's drone delivery service, using autonomous drones to safely deliver packages to customers in under an hour. Our mission is to build a safe, reliable, and efficient drone delivery system that transforms the way packages are delivered worldwide. In this role, you'll join the Structures and Payload team under Drone Fleet and Production (DF&P) as a Field Operations Engineer supporting the current fleet of vehicles in service. This position will ensure a high degree of technical reliability within drone operations for Amazon fulfillment networks, working closely with design engineering staff to drive continuous improvement in the drone system.

Partnering with the drone Structures and Payload team, you will provide engineering analyses and solutions to improve system reliability and performance. A successful candidate will leverage data-driven insights to identify opportunities and lead the implementation of system improvements. Strong cross-functional engineering fundamentals (mechanical, electrical, software development basics) and technical communication skills are essential. Your ability to translate complex system functions into digestible insights and summarize effectively for stakeholders at all levels will be critical.

This position may require a deemed export control authorization for compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Placement is contingent on Amazon’s ability to apply for and obtain an export control license on your behalf.

Responsibilities

• Investigate drone system performance for anomalies and deliver solutions to operations and maintenance team escalations
• Lead cross-functional system investigations with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to optimize drone system performance metrics and drive improvements
• Develop innovative hardware designs for emerging drone systems and improve existing hardware to optimize performance and enhance customer experience
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data-driven insights to establish benchmark standards and reduce operational burdens
• Work with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality organizations, and vendors to ensure smooth product launch and sustaining
• Develop and maintain documentation for technical procedures
• Communicate effectively across all organizational levels, presenting strategies and results to senior leadership and operational partners

A day in the life

As a Field Operations Engineer on the Prime Air team, you will be embedded with the Product Support Organization (PSO), serving as the first-line liaison between operator/maintainer experiences and design engineering improvements or mitigations. You will bring a unique perspective informed by direct operational data and customer feedback to spearhead system improvements and address engineering problems discovered in the field. You will act as a critical bridge between operations and design engineering.

About the team

The Structures and Payload team is responsible for the entire vehicle structure and systems that interface with the vehicle payload, as well as providing engineering support for the Assembly and Test organization. Field Operations Engineers on this team serve as the direct link between production operations and design engineering, ensuring that design and reliability challenges are resolved quickly and fed back into the design process for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent
• 4+ years of working in mechanical engineering or equivalent experience
• Experience in the design of complex mechanical products and equipment at volume

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent
• Knowledge of SolidWorks simulation or Ansys Finite Element analysis tools
• Experience communicating technical concepts and processes using clear, simple language and visuals
• Experience working effectively across cross-functional teams and partnering well with people at all levels within an organization
• Experience that includes strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication abilities
• Experience in a fast-paced, dynamic organization

Pay

USA, WA, Seattle - $117,300.00 - $160,000.00 USD annually

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.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance, and optional supplemental life plans)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and 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 amazon.jobs/en/benefits.