Automation Controls Engineer, Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering

Amazon Data Services, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Web Services' Hardware Engineering team seeks an experienced controls architect to define the electrical systems and controls architecture for automated assembly lines across contract manufacturers. You will own PLC standards, HMI development, safety architectures, and industrial network topology.

This role involves creating reusable templates, MES data-exchange specifications, and leading controls reviews in a fast-paced, multi-platform international manufacturing environment with up to

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Define controls systems architecture: PLC standards, HMI frameworks, safety 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 for automated lines
• Design safety system architecture per ISO 13849 and IEC 62443
• Create reusable control system templates and code libraries for global deployment
• Define MES integration specifications and data exchange protocols
• Lead controls architecture reviews for automation projects and vendor-supplied systems

Skills

PLC programming

Safety system design

Industrial networks

MES integration

HMI/SCADA

Cybersecurity (IEC 62443)

Controls design reviews

Servo motion control

Cross-site deployment standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Controls/Computer Engineering

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

Allen-Bradley Studio 5000

Beckhoff TwinCAT

Job description

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

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 leading controls design reviews for third-party automation systems
• 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,