Automation Controls Engineer, Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering

Amazon Web Services' Hardware Engineering team is looking for experienced professionals to help build the world's premier cloud computing platform. The Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering team designs, validates, and deploys automation solutions, including robotics, cobots, vision inspection, AI-powered quality systems, and automated assembly workflows, across contract manufacturer sites worldwide.

About the Role: You will define the controls and electrical systems architecture for all automated assembly lines, creating the standard control platform that scales across all platforms and all contract manufacturer sites. You own PLC programming standards, HMI development frameworks, safety system architecture, and industrial network design. You define how automated cells communicate with each other, with MES, and with data collection systems. You are the architect of the nervous system that connects every robot, sensor, actuator, and inspection system into a coordinated, data-generating production line. You establish reusable control system templates that ensure consistency and reduce deployment time globally.

The scope covers all server and rack assembly across all architectures and platforms, including compute, AI/ML accelerators, storage, and networking. The team designs intelligent, predictive-analytics-driven production systems where every station is sensor-driven, AI-optimized, and self-correcting, turning assembly lines into programmable, data-generating platforms that scale capacity without scaling headcount. This role requires the engineer to operate in a fast-paced, multi-platform international manufacturing environment with travel to contract manufacturer sites (up to 25-30% travel anticipated).

• Key job responsibilities
• •Define controls systems architecture: PLC programming standards, HMI frameworks, safety system design, network topology
• •Design and program PLC-based control systems for automated assembly lines
• •Develop standardized HMI interfaces for operator interaction and production monitoring
• •Architect industrial network infrastructure (e.g., EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT) for automated lines
• •Design safety system architecture per ISO 13849 and IEC 62443 (functional safety and cybersecurity)
• •Create reusable control system templates and code libraries for global deployment standardization
• •Define MES integration specifications and data exchange protocols between automation cells and enterprise systems
• •Lead controls architecture reviews for automation projects and vendor-supplied systems

• About the team
• About the team: The Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering team is building a centralized automation Center of Excellence that owns the process specification and IP for how AWS hardware gets assembled. The team is responsible for engineering, defining automated process requirements, designing and proving solutions at proof-of-concept, and maintaining AWS-owned intellectual property that scales globally. The team works within a collaborative framework across Hardware Engineering (product design for automation), Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering (process specification and validation), and Manufacturing Operations (deployment and scaling), ensuring automation is engineered once, proven once, and deployed everywhere.

Basic qualifications

• - Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent
• - 7+ years designing industrial control systems for automated manufacturing
• - Proficiency in PLC programming (e.g., Siemens TIA Portal, Allen-Bradley Studio 5000, Beckhoff TwinCAT)
• - Experience with industrial safety system design (e.g., ISO 13849, safety PLCs, safety networks)
• - Experience with industrial network protocols (e.g., EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, OPC-UA)
• - Track record of defining control system standards for multi-site deployment

Preferred qualifications

• - Experience with MES integration and manufacturing data exchange
• - HMI/SCADA development experience (e.g., Ignition, WinCC, FactoryTalk)
• - Industrial cybersecurity knowledge (e.g., IEC 62443)
• - Experience with servo motion control and multi-axis coordination
• - Electronics, server, or precision hardware manufacturing environment
• - Experience leading controls design reviews for third-party automation systems
• - Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)

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.

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.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including 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, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits .

USA, TX, Austin - 159,200.00 - 215,300.00 USD annually