Member of Technical Staff, Frontier AI & Robotics
Amazon is hiring a Member of Technical Staff, Frontier AI & Robotics in San Francisco, United States. Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.
Level's read on this job
- Level rates this role Works on AI ●●●○: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
- The posting mentions Oscilloscopes, Multimeters and Power Supplies among its tools and skills.
- Level classes it as a senior role.
- Amazon has 21,000+ other open roles on Level.
- Posted within the past week.
AI in this role
Assemble, test, and validate advanced robotic hardware for warehouse environments as a senior hardware technician on the Frontier AI & Robotics team.
Key job responsibilities
- Perform precision assembly of electromechanical robotic systems and subsystems, including actuators, gearboxes, force/torque sensors, vision systems, wiring harnesses, and PCB assemblies, following engineering drawings, schematics, and assembly work instructions
- Execute hardware acceptance testing, functional verification, and performance characterization for robotic components and integrated systems using standard and custom test equipment, documenting results in test records and quality systems
- Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering teams to identify and resolve integration issues discovered during assembly and test, implementing corrective actions and updating work instructions to prevent recurrence
- Support prototype build cycles from initial kit preparation through final system checkout, maintaining build schedules and communicating proactively with engineering and program stakeholders on status, risks, and blockers
- Perform quality inspections and maintain detailed build records, traveler documents, and non-conformance reports (NCRs) to ensure full traceability and compliance with quality standards
- Maintain a safe, organized, and ESD-compliant lab environment; follow all safety protocols for handling high-voltage electronics, heavy robotic assemblies, and hazardous materials
- Operate and maintain lab equipment including torque tools, oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, and custom test fixtures; escalate calibration and maintenance needs as required
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to streamline assembly processes, reduce cycle times, and improve build quality across prototype and small-batch production runs
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior technicians, sharing best practices for precision assembly, test procedures, and quality documentation
- Support transition from prototype to higher-volume production by developing and refining standard operating procedures (SOPs), assembly aids, and training materials
A day in the life
Your day begins on the lab floor, where you'll assemble electromechanical subsystems and integrate components—actuators, sensors, wiring harnesses, and PCB assemblies—into advanced robotic platforms following engineering drawings and assembly work instructions. You might spend the morning building up a robotic arm assembly, carefully torquing fasteners and routing cables to specification, then transition to the test bench in the afternoon to run acceptance and functional tests on completed assemblies.
You'll collaborate closely with mechanical and electrical engineers to troubleshoot integration issues discovered during build or test, documenting findings and implementing corrective actions. You'll also work with our quality team to perform inspections, complete build records, and ensure that every assembly leaving your station meets the high standards our programs demand. Throughout the day, you'll contribute to continuous improvement efforts—suggesting process enhancements, improving work instructions, and mentoring junior technicians on best practices for precision assembly and test.
About the team
We are Frontier AI & Robotics, the team at Amazon building the next generation of embodied intelligence. We develop and implement advanced AI models within Amazon's operations that enable robots to see, reason, and act on the world around them, supporting a range of warehouse automation tasks. Our vision is to create robotic systems that combine sophisticated AI, advanced control systems, and innovative mechanical design.
Our lab operations team is the critical bridge between engineering vision and physical reality—the place where concepts become testable prototypes. We work closely with mechanical, electrical, and controls engineers who depend on our technicians' expertise to validate designs and iterate quickly. We are committed to creating an environment where innovation thrives through collaboration, where your hands-on contributions directly accelerate our robotics development roadmap. We're excited to welcome someone who brings both technical precision and a passion for solving complex hardware challenges in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
Basic qualifications
- 3+ years of hands-on experience assembling and testing electromechanical systems, robotics hardware, or precision mechatronic assemblies in a lab, prototype, or manufacturing environment
- Experience reading and interpreting mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, assembly diagrams, and wiring documentation to build and test complex hardware assemblies
- Demonstrated ability to perform functional and acceptance testing of electronic and electromechanical systems using standard test equipment such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, and power supplies
- Experience performing quality inspections and maintaining detailed build records, including assembly travelers, inspection checklists, and non-conformance documentation
- Knowledge of ESD handling procedures, lab safety protocols, and best practices for working safely with high-voltage electronics and heavy mechanical assemblies
Preferred qualifications
- Experience assembling and testing robotic systems with high degrees of freedom, including familiarity with actuators, force/torque sensors, inertial measurement units (IMUs), encoders, and vision systems
- Background in a robotics research lab, hardware startup, aerospace, or advanced electromechanical systems environment where rapid prototyping and tight engineering collaboration are standard
- Experience supporting prototype-to-production transitions, including the development and refinement of assembly SOPs, work instructions, and training materials for higher-volume build environments
- Familiarity with ERP systems, manufacturing execution systems (MES), or lab management tools for tracking inventory, build status, and component traceability
- Associate's degree or technical certification in Electronics Technology, Mechatronics, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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.
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How we rate this
Member of Technical Staff, Frontier AI & Robotics at Amazon rates 65 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where hardware testing was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where electromechanical assembly was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where robotics was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where troubleshooting was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where quality assurance was part of your work. What did you do?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Hardware Testing, Electromechanical Assembly, Robotics, Troubleshooting, and Quality Assurance. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.
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