Principal Manufacturing Engineer, Assembly

Amazon is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to define and drive the manufacturing strategy 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. Key job 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.