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

Little AI ●○○○ is how Level rates this role: aI is not part of the work.
Level classes it as a lead role.
Amazon has 20,000+ other open roles on Level.
Posted in the last few days.

AI in this role

Join Amazon's Frontier AI & Robotics (FAR) team and play a hands-on, technically deep role in bringing the next generation of intelligent robotic systems to life. As a Robotics Lab & Support Engineer, you'll own the full lifecycle of robot prototypes — precision assembly, wiring and electrical integration, system bring-up, calibration, and acceptance testing — taking robots from a kit of parts to a validated, working system. You'll also serve as the first line of defense when prototypes break, triaging failures across mechanical, electrical, and software domains, performing root-cause analysis, and driving corrective actions back into designs and processes. We're looking for a resourceful engineer with real robotics experience who is as comfortable reading schematics and torquing fasteners as they are reading logs, running debuggers, and writing scripts to isolate faults.

Key job responsibilities
- Assemble electromechanical robotic systems and subsystems (actuators, gearboxes, sensors, vision systems, wiring harnesses, PCBAs) for early prototypes using mechanical drawings and schematics. Help create work instructions and assembly procedures.
- Kit parts against the BOM, stage hardware and fixtures, set up assembly jigs and alignment rigs, and support build cycles from kit prep through final system checkout.
- Build first articles from prototype kits, provide engineering with actionable build feedback (DFx), and execute rework and engineering change orders (ECOs) as designs iterate.
- Fabricate, route, and terminate wiring harnesses to documented pinouts with proper strain relief, bend radius management, and cable routing for moving assemblies.
- Perform pre-power-on electrical verification (continuity, pinout, insulation, polarity) and board-level integration under ESD discipline.
- Bring up newly built assemblies; verify actuator, sensor, and control-loop function; perform sensor calibration; and run acceptance testing and performance characterization using standard and custom test equipment.
- Use git and the Linux command line to install, configure, and run test, calibration, and diagnostic software on robot platforms; track software versions and configurations across the fleet.
- Serve as the primary first responder when robot prototypes fail - systematically debug across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software domains, reproduce faults, and perform structured root-cause analysis.
- Document triage findings in clear, actionable reports; collaborate with ME, EE, controls, and software engineers to drive corrective actions into designs, firmware, and work instructions.
- Track recurring failure modes and advocate for design or process changes to eliminate them.
- Maintain build records, travelers, inspection checklists, and non-conformance reports (NCRs) ensuring full traceability; redline and improve work instructions with each build.
- Keep the lab safe, organized, and ESD-compliant; track tooling, consumables, and inventory; follow all safety protocols for high-voltage electronics and heavy robotic assemblies.
- Drive continuous improvement by developing SOPs, assembly aids, debug guides, and training materials; mentor junior technicians on assembly, test, and troubleshooting best practices.
- On-site lab role; standing, bench work, and hands-on assembly for extended periods, including work in awkward positions and tight spaces.
- Fine motor precision and close-vision work with small fasteners, connectors, and board-level components.
- Lifting and maneuvering heavy robotic assemblies; use of required PPE.
- Work around high-voltage electronics, powered actuators, and moving machinery.

A day in the life
Your day begins on the lab floor assembling electromechanical subsystems and integrating components — actuators, sensors, wiring harnesses, PCB assemblies — into robotic platforms following engineering drawings and work instructions. You might spend the morning building up a robotic arm assembly, carefully torquing fasteners and routing cables to spec, then transition to the test bench to run acceptance tests on completed assemblies. But the day rarely goes exactly to plan — and that's where you shine. When a prototype fails or a subsystem behaves unexpectedly, you're the first responder: pulling logs, probing signals, inspecting hardware, and systematically narrowing the fault across domains. You'll document findings, collaborate with the responsible engineer to confirm root cause, and drive the fix. Throughout the day you'll contribute to continuous improvement — refining work instructions, building debug guides, and mentoring teammates on best practices.

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 that enable robots to see, reason, and act within Amazon's operations. 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, controls, and software engineers who depend on our lab team's expertise to validate designs, catch problems early, and iterate quickly.

Basic qualifications

- Knowledge of command line tools to troubleshoot protocols, analyze log outputs, or automate basic tasks
- 3+ years of hands-on experience building, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical or robotic systems in a lab, prototype, R&D, or advanced manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated robotics experience - direct work with robotic platforms, articulated mechanisms, or complex mechatronic systems.
- Able to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and work instructions to build, test, and debug complex hardware.
- Proven troubleshooting and debug skills spanning hardware and software: ability to systematically isolate faults across mechanical, electrical, and software domains and produce clear root-cause analyses.
- Proficient with hand and torque tools, basic crimping and soldering, and steady work with small fasteners and connectors.
- Demonstrated ability to perform functional and acceptance testing using standard test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, logic analyzers).
- Experience performing quality inspections and maintaining detailed build records, including assembly travelers, inspection checklists, and non-conformance documentation.
- Knowledge of ESD handling procedures and lab safety protocols for working with high-voltage electronics and heavy mechanical assemblies.

Preferred qualifications

- Bachelor's or Associate's degree in Robotics, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline; or equivalent hands-on experience.
- Experience assembling, integrating, and debugging high-DOF robotic systems including familiarity with actuators, motor drivers, force/torque sensors, IMUs, encoders, and vision/depth camera systems.
- Scripting ability in Python and/or bash for test automation, calibration, and diagnostic tooling; familiarity with ROS/ROS 2 is a plus.
- Experience with firmware flashing, CAN bus, EtherCAT, serial protocols, or other fieldbus/communication interfaces common in robotics.
- Wiring harness fabrication experience including building to a pinout, connector assembly, and cable routing on moving assemblies.
- Background in a robotics research lab, hardware startup, aerospace, or advanced R&D environment where rapid prototyping, tight engineering collaboration, and fast debug cycles are the norm.
- Familiarity with structured root-cause methodologies (fault trees, 5-Why, FMEA) and experience with Docker, networking, CI/CD pipelines, or embedded Linux environments.
- Experience with ERP systems, MES, PLM, or lab management tools for tracking inventory, build status, component traceability, and hardware/software revision control.

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 29 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● 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.