Controls Design Engineer, Data Center Engineering

Amazon Web Services (AWS); Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is seeking an exceptional Controls Design Engineer to join our DCGS team. You will establish and maintain BMS/EPMS standards for the global data center portfolio, ensuring consistency and cost efficiency across projects.

You will collaborate with construction teams, controls programmers, MEP/ACS engineers, design engineering, CRE, and project managers to drive initiatives. This role requires strong leadership, travel up to 25%, and a focus on safe, scalable control

Qualifications

• Experience with building operations and control systems in data centers.
• Strong knowledge of BMS/EPMS programming concepts and control diagrams.
• Ability to develop specifications and Basis of Design standards.
• Experience coordinating SOWs and vendor submissions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain BMS/EPMS standards for global data centers.
• Lead collaboration with construction teams and engineers to achieve goals.
• Review vendor submittals and ensure compliance with AWS standards.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed (≈25%).
• Drive cost reductions by reducing changes and optimizing vendor pricing.

Skills

BMS/EPMS

Data center ops

Project management

Stakeholder mgmt

Vendor management

HVAC systems

Tools

Modbus

MDT

One-line diagrams

Job description

Description

AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help.

You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is seeking an exceptional Controls Design Engineer to join our Data Center Global Services (DCGS) Controls Design Engineering (CDE) team. This role will focus on Building Management System (BMS) and Electrical Power Monitoring System (EPMS) design standards and coordination across AWS's global data center portfolio.

The Controls Design Engineering team is responsible for developing, maintaining, and enhancing global data center design standards with a focus on controls, automation, and electrical power monitoring systems. As the primary owner of BMS/EPMS specifications, Controls Points Lists (CPL), Basis of Design (BOD) documents, and scope of work within AWS's infrastructure engineering organization, CDE ensures consistency and excellence across all data center control systems.

In this role, you will serve as a single point of contact for multiple internal and external stakeholders across:

• New construction builds (Leased/Owned, Build-to-Suit, and Colocation facilities)
• Legacy site enhancement and retrofit projects
• Data center support projects
• Special initiatives and innovation projects

You will drive significant cost reductions by minimizing change orders, eliminating scope gaps between contractors, reducing construction schedule delays, optimizing vendor pricing, and decreasing project management and engineering labor costs through standardization and clear documentation.

The ideal candidate brings a comprehensive knowledge in data center environmental controls systems, IT infrastructure, networking, mechanical facility operations, electrical power monitoring, and project management, combined with strong leadership and collaboration skills.

If you are passionate about customer experience, think and act with a global perspective, and want to contribute to sophisticated innovations in building controls and automation for the world's largest cloud infrastructure, we want to hear from you.

Key Job Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Standards Development

• Develop and maintain deep expertise in building operations, mechanical plant strategies, BMS/EPMS programming concepts, control diagrams, industrial HVAC systems, electrical lineups, one-line diagrams, and complex environmental and electrical concepts
• Apply knowledge of data center redundancy, mechanical failure strategies, Single Point of Failure (SPOF) analysis, energy and water conservation best practices, and data reporting analytics
• Create, maintain, and disseminate specification documents and Basis of Design standards for global projects
• Develop and maintain project-specific Scope of Work (SOW) documents incorporating global design standards
• Drive innovation of new solutions to support team initiatives and company goals

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the central point of contact for multiple internal and external groups regarding BMS/EPMS controls standards
• Lead and facilitate collaboration with construction teams, controls programmers, MEP/ACS engineers, Design Engineering, Colocation Regional Engineering (CRE), and project managers to accomplish initiative goals
• Coordinate personally with regional project managers to review and finalize project SOWs

  Vendor & Procurement Management

  • Lead vendor selection processes, bid reviews, and RFI support and coordination
  • Evaluate and approve Modbus Device Templates (MDT) for electrical meters and control devices
  • Review vendor submittals and technical documentation for compliance with AWS standards

  Operations & Support

  • Operate successfully in high-security, mission-critical environments while maximizing productivity and maintaining safety standards
  • Interact with AWS cloud services and applications to present, archive, and analyze accumulated control system data
  • Participate in on-call rotations to support the global data center control system infrastructure
  • Anticipate roadblocks and risks while providing escalation management and resolution
  • Travel globally as needed to manage and support project initiatives

  Continuous Improvement

  • Collaborate through design reviews to drive consistent standards across all delivery methods (Leased/Owned, Build-to-Suit, Colocation)
  • Collect feedback data and lessons learned to arrive at unified, documented solutions
  • Support risk identification and mitigation efforts during site assessments and project lifecycle phases

  Our Controls Design Engineers

  • Are controls subject matter experts (SMEs) with their knowledge of building operations, electrical generation and distribution equipment (i.e. generators, UPS etc.), mechanical plant and strategies (i.e. AHUs, chillers etc.), BMS/EPMS programming concepts, control diagrams, industrial HVAC, electrical line-ups, one-line diagrams, and complex environmental and electrical concepts
  • Create, maintain, and disseminate project specific scope of work (SOW) documents, specifications and engineering drawings as well as global design standards
  • Operate in high security critical environments while maximizing productivity
  • Innovate to develop new solutions to support both team and company goals and initiatives
  • Interpret and develop a combination of mechanical, electrical and plumbing drawings
  • Are a central point of contact as technical subject matter experts for multiple internal and external groups regarding mechanical and electrical controls standards.
  • Manage and prioritize requests for information on new construction builds, existing site facilities support and legacy site enhancement projects
  • Ensure systems are deployed and commissioned to our documented standards
  • Strive for frugality through budgetary review and approval with a strong customer focus and ability to interpret customer needs
  • Are technical subject matter experts in mechanical and/or electrical controls
  • Anticipate roadblocks and risks while providing escalation management
  • Work quickly and autonomously to deep dive and resolve unexpected challenges
  • Effectively manage external consultants’ performance ensuring high quality delivery
  • Review vendor bid packages and make selection recommendations
  • Work across multiple projects simultaneously
  • Interact with AWS cloud services and other applications in order to present, archive and analyse accumulated data
  • Solve problems to drive results whilst handling multiple tasks
  • Travel domestically and internationally as needed to manage your projects (circa 25% of the time)

  A Day in the Life

  As part of the controls design team, you will work with highly motivated experts and innovators in the data center industry. You will be tasked to lead the electrical and mechanical controls design of critical infrastructure projects including HV Substations, Leased and Colocation Data Centres. You will work on developing new processes and standards and test new innovations in the controls space utilizing Amazon leadership principles.

  About The Team

  Diverse Experiences

  Amazon values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.

  Why AWS

  Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.

  Work/Life Balance

  We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve in the cloud.

  Inclusive Team Culture