Principal Manufacturing Engineer, Assembly
About the role
Amazon is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to define and drive the manufacturing strategy for new product introductions, informing production line design while partnering to design the product for manufacturing. This is a senior technical leadership role — you'll create clarity from ambiguity, set manufacturing direction and architect production systems that maximize learning velocity while laying the groundwork for future high-volume scale.
The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of experience spanning both high-volume assembly environments and rapid prototyping / NPI operations for complex electromechanical products. You should have a track record of standing up build operations from scratch, driving process development roadmaps, and influencing product architecture decisions — not just providing DFM feedback. This role requires strategic thinking, deep technical credibility, the ability to align cross-functionally, and the willingness to roll up your sleeves in an environment where requirements evolve quickly.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the manufacturing voice in daily design trades — influence product architecture, tolerance strategy, and material selection in real time
- Advocate for the simplest and most reliable assembly processes, and drive DFM/DFA considerations upstream as a co-designer as the product design itself is still evolving
- Define the end-to-end manufacturing strategy across build iterations: process architecture and the transition path from prototype to volume production
- Create clarity from ambiguity: establish frameworks, standards, and decision criteria that guide the broader engineering team
- Define what "ready to build" means at each stage and own the manufacturing readiness process
- Develop and prove out assembly methods (joining, fastening, adhesive bonding, press-fits, human-assisted automation) with an emphasis on rapid iteration and reconfigurability between builds
- Determine direction by thoughtful balance between operational efficiency for faster learning cycles
- Define build instrumentation and data capture strategies to maximize learning per build cycle
- Translate build observations into actionable design and process feedback
- Own the build report / lessons-learned process that feeds the next design iteration
- Drive manufacturing line concept, design, requirements, material flow, vendor selection, equipment specification and commissioning
- Design quick-turn fixtures and tooling; make smart build-vs-buy decisions on tooling — knowing when 80% is good enough to learn
- Leverage rapid prototyping methods (3D printing, laser cutting, modular framing) for process tooling
- Engage with equipment OEMs, tooling suppliers, automation integrators, and key production partners
- Identify opportunities to reduce non-value-add operations and drive significant improvements from one build iteration to the next
- Develop and standardize assembly processes, control plans, maintenance strategies, and operational documentation appropriate to build maturity level
- Mentor engineers and contribute to a culture of technical excellence, safety, and operational discipline
- Raise the bar on hiring, develop the team's technical capabilities, and shape the engineering culture
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline
- 10+ years of direct manufacturing engineering experience, including high-volume assembly environments and prototyping / NPI / low-rate initial production for complex electromechanical products
- Experience owning manufacturing strategy for a new product introduction (NPI) from concept through volume production
- Experience supporting commissioning, startup, and ramp-up of integrated assembly operations
- Strong knowledge of assembly methods including mechanical joining, fastening, adhesive bonding, press-fits, human-assisted automation, and robotic assembly
- Demonstrated ability to create clarity from ambiguity — defining strategy and decision criteria for cross-functional teams
- Ability to influence at a senior level across engineering, product design, and program leadership
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with interdisciplinary teams to execute product design from concept to production
- Experience with build instrumentation, data capture, and structured lessons-learned processes in prototype or development builds
- Experience with rapid prototyping methods for process tooling (3D printing, laser cutting, modular framing)
- Experience in R&D, skunkworks, or advanced development environments
- Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent
- Experience with the project management of technical programs at a portfolio level
Pay
USA, MA, N.Reading — $163,400.00 - $221,000.00 USD annually. Your 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
- 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
- Parental leave