Lab Engineer II, Global Materials Science
Amazon, North Reading, MA, United States
Join Amazon's Global Materials Science (GMS) organization as a Lab Engineer and be part of pioneering sustainable e‑commerce packaging. In this hands‑on role, you will conduct materials testing and characterization that directly supports the development of breakthrough packaging materials. You will work in state‑of‑the‑art laboratories, operating advanced testing equipment, executing experiments, and generating critical data that enables our team to make informed decisions about materials that touch millions of customer experiences daily.
Key Job Responsibilities
Conduct hands‑on materials testing using equipment including tensile testers, burst testers, tear testers, rheometers, and other materials characterization tools.
Execute test protocols following TAPPI, ASTM, ISO, ISTA standards, and internal developed methods.
Perform testing on packaging materials including paper substrates, adhesives, coatings, and alternative fiber materials.
Operate and maintain laboratory equipment, ensuring proper calibration and functionality.
Prepare test and store specimens according to specifications and standard operating procedures.
Identify, recommend, and help implement improved lab processes for the team.
Data Collection & Analysis
Collect, organize, and document experimental data with high accuracy and attention to detail.
Analyze test results and identify trends or anomalies in materials performance.
Generate clear and concise test reports summarizing findings and observations.
Support data‑driven decision making by providing reliable, high‑quality test results.
Laboratory Operations
Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions for all testing activities.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organized laboratory environment.
Participate in laboratory safety programs and equipment maintenance schedules.
Assist in identifying opportunities to improve testing efficiency and data quality.
Support inventory management of laboratory supplies and test materials.
Cross‑Functional Support
Collaborate with Advanced Materials Engineers and scientists on experimental design and execution.
Communicate test results, status updates, and any issues or blockers to team members.
Support supplier qualification activities by conducting materials testing on vendor samples.
Assist with sample preparation and testing for field trials and deployment validation.
Participate in team meetings and contribute to project planning discussions.
Documentation & Continuous Improvement
Contribute to the development and refinement of test procedures and SOPs.
Document experimental procedures, observations, and results clearly and thoroughly.
Identify and recommend improvements to testing methods and laboratory processes.
Learn and apply materials science principles to understand the significance of test results.
Seek feedback and continuously develop technical skills and domain knowledge.
Work Environment
Primarily laboratory‑based work with hands‑on equipment operation.
Standard lab safety protocols and PPE requirements.
Occasional lifting of materials and equipment (up to 50 lbs), standing, walking, kneeling throughout the day.
Collaborative team environment with regular interaction with scientists and engineers.
A Day in the Life
Your day starts in the lab preparing test specimens—cutting paper samples to precise dimensions and conditioning them in the environmental chamber. You support a critical adhesive development project, testing to determine if the new formulation meets performance requirements.
Mid‑morning, you run tensile and burst tests on paper samples, carefully following the test protocol and recording data in real time. The results look interesting—you notice the tear strength is higher than previous samples and flag this for the materials engineer leading the project.
After lunch, you operate the rheometer to characterize viscosity profiles of new hot melt adhesive samples from three different suppliers. You meticulously document the temperature ramps and flow behavior, knowing this data will directly inform sourcing decisions.
Your afternoon includes calibrating equipment, organizing test data into clear summary reports, and preparing samples for tomorrow’s environmental conditioning tests. You also participate in a team meeting where you present your week’s testing results—your data shows one supplier’s material consistently outperforms the others.
Basic Qualifications
2+ years of hardware development, test lab, space/aerospace maintenance or hands‑on engineering environment experience.
Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Material Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Paper Science Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
2+ years of laboratory experience in materials testing, quality control, or research environment.
Experience with packaging materials or other forest products testing (paper, adhesives, coatings, or polymers) following standard test methods (TAPPI, ASTM, ISO, ISTA, etc.).
Hands‑on experience with testing equipment such as tensile testers, burst testers, thermal analysis equipment, SEM, DMA, etc., and experience with data analysis tools and statistical methods.
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
The base salary range for this position is $99,400.00 – $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 experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
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Key Job Responsibilities
Conduct hands‑on materials testing using equipment including tensile testers, burst testers, tear testers, rheometers, and other materials characterization tools.
Execute test protocols following TAPPI, ASTM, ISO, ISTA standards, and internal developed methods.
Perform testing on packaging materials including paper substrates, adhesives, coatings, and alternative fiber materials.
Operate and maintain laboratory equipment, ensuring proper calibration and functionality.
Prepare test and store specimens according to specifications and standard operating procedures.
Identify, recommend, and help implement improved lab processes for the team.
Data Collection & Analysis
Collect, organize, and document experimental data with high accuracy and attention to detail.
Analyze test results and identify trends or anomalies in materials performance.
Generate clear and concise test reports summarizing findings and observations.
Support data‑driven decision making by providing reliable, high‑quality test results.
Laboratory Operations
Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions for all testing activities.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organized laboratory environment.
Participate in laboratory safety programs and equipment maintenance schedules.
Assist in identifying opportunities to improve testing efficiency and data quality.
Support inventory management of laboratory supplies and test materials.
Cross‑Functional Support
Collaborate with Advanced Materials Engineers and scientists on experimental design and execution.
Communicate test results, status updates, and any issues or blockers to team members.
Support supplier qualification activities by conducting materials testing on vendor samples.
Assist with sample preparation and testing for field trials and deployment validation.
Participate in team meetings and contribute to project planning discussions.
Documentation & Continuous Improvement
Contribute to the development and refinement of test procedures and SOPs.
Document experimental procedures, observations, and results clearly and thoroughly.
Identify and recommend improvements to testing methods and laboratory processes.
Learn and apply materials science principles to understand the significance of test results.
Seek feedback and continuously develop technical skills and domain knowledge.
Work Environment
Primarily laboratory‑based work with hands‑on equipment operation.
Standard lab safety protocols and PPE requirements.
Occasional lifting of materials and equipment (up to 50 lbs), standing, walking, kneeling throughout the day.
Collaborative team environment with regular interaction with scientists and engineers.
A Day in the Life
Your day starts in the lab preparing test specimens—cutting paper samples to precise dimensions and conditioning them in the environmental chamber. You support a critical adhesive development project, testing to determine if the new formulation meets performance requirements.
Mid‑morning, you run tensile and burst tests on paper samples, carefully following the test protocol and recording data in real time. The results look interesting—you notice the tear strength is higher than previous samples and flag this for the materials engineer leading the project.
After lunch, you operate the rheometer to characterize viscosity profiles of new hot melt adhesive samples from three different suppliers. You meticulously document the temperature ramps and flow behavior, knowing this data will directly inform sourcing decisions.
Your afternoon includes calibrating equipment, organizing test data into clear summary reports, and preparing samples for tomorrow’s environmental conditioning tests. You also participate in a team meeting where you present your week’s testing results—your data shows one supplier’s material consistently outperforms the others.
Basic Qualifications
2+ years of hardware development, test lab, space/aerospace maintenance or hands‑on engineering environment experience.
Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Material Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Paper Science Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
2+ years of laboratory experience in materials testing, quality control, or research environment.
Experience with packaging materials or other forest products testing (paper, adhesives, coatings, or polymers) following standard test methods (TAPPI, ASTM, ISO, ISTA, etc.).
Hands‑on experience with testing equipment such as tensile testers, burst testers, thermal analysis equipment, SEM, DMA, etc., and experience with data analysis tools and statistical methods.
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
The base salary range for this position is $99,400.00 – $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 experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
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