Critical Infrastructure Controls Engineer, Data Center Field Engineering

Socket.dev; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 117,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Columbus, OH, is seeking a Field Engineer to support critical infrastructure across AWS data centers. You will lead post-event analyses, develop controls code templates, and own lifecycle execution for pilot projects, interfacing with multiple teams to ensure reliability and efficiency.

The role emphasizes field engagement, strong problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration to maintain uptime and safety in a hyper-scale environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field required.
• Experience with controls systems, data analysis, and field troubleshooting preferred.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead post-event engineering analysis for controls-related incidents and identify failure patterns.
• Develop and maintain controls logic and templates for equipment.
• Own lifecycle from request to rollout for legacy control pilots.
• Serve as technical escalation point and conduct site support visits as needed.
• Provide engineering support for proprietary and third-party controls products.
• Build and maintain technical baselines, including test scripts and code libraries.
• Develop standards and metrics to improve control system reliability.
• Collaborate with Operations, Design, and Program Management to resolve issues.

Skills

Control systems

Python

SQL

Machine learning

Data visualization

Root cause analysis

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

BMS/BAS/SCADA

PLC

BACnet/Modbus

Job 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.

As an Amazon Field Engineer you will support critical infrastructure in AWS data centers. This support will span the full building lifecycle from design and construction reviews for new sites to upgrades and maintenance standards for existing ones. As the primary engineering resource for your region, you will apply your subject matter expertise to troubleshoot critical failures, conduct Root Cause Analyses, and develop corrective actions. You will own conceptual designs for capacity, availability, and efficiency improvements, lead engineering audits, and provide technical escalation support for sites in operation. Working across Data Center Operations, Design Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Health & Safety, and partner Controls teams, you will drive standards that ensure consistency and reliability fleet-wide, while managing concurrent projects that may span multiple geographic regions.

Key job responsibilities

• Lead post-event engineering analysis for controls-related incidents — including root-cause investigations, technical field reports, and time-sensitive reviews — and identify recurring failure patterns to develop corrective actions and reliability improvements across the facility portfolio.
• Develop, review, and maintain controls logic and reusable code templates for mechanical and electrical equipment, ensuring alignment with approved Sequences of Operations and deployment readiness across air-handling units, cooling systems, chillers, pumps, and electrical infrastructure.
• Own the full engineering lifecycle for legacy controls first of kind pilots, from request intake and technical review through field execution, results analysis, and go/no-go recommendations for broader rollout.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for complex controls issues that exceed existing procedures or support models, including traveling to facilities to support investigations and developing corrective actions. Review controls drawings, wiring diagrams, network topologies, equipment submittals, and deployed configurations to identify risks related to reliability, operability, and maintainability.
• Provide engineering support for proprietary and third-party controls products by aggregating design update proposals and partnering with product and partner Controls teams to drive bug fixes and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain technical baselines, including test scripts, points lists, naming conventions, alarm thresholds, setpoints, code libraries, and engineering playbooks.
• Develop engineering standards and system-health metrics that improve control system reliability and standardization across the facility portfolio.
• Partner with facility operations, Commissioning, Design Engineering, Technical Program Managers, and partner Controls teams to resolve technical issues.

Amazon's vision is to be the world's most customer-centric company, and this role is key to that vision. As an Amazon Critical Infrastructure Controls Engineer, you will be leading projects to update our data centers to meet ever-evolving customer needs as we continue expanding our fleet to hyper-scale.

As an ideal candidate you:

• Apply strong engineering judgment to deliver clear recommendations, even in ambiguous or uncertain situations.
• Communicate and write with clarity and precision, maintaining high quality standards while managing priorities, deadlines, and budgets.
• Lead with confidence and approach complex problems with structured, solution-oriented thinking.
• Make decisions grounded in data and a strong attention to detail.
• Design and implement engineered solutions to solve challenging, real-world problems.
• Manage engineering projects and external consultants with accountability and efficiency.
• Build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, including Operations, partner Controls teams, Construction, Design, Commissioning, and Program Management.
• Adapt quickly to changing conditions and are comfortable getting into the field to assess situations firsthand.
• Thrive in a role that blends office-based work with hands‑on field engagement.

Key job responsibilities

• Lead post-event engineering analysis for controls-related incidents — including root-cause investigations, technical field reports, and time-sensitive reviews — and identify recurring failure patterns to develop corrective actions and reliability improvements across the facility portfolio.
• Develop, review, and maintain controls logic and reusable code templates for mechanical and electrical equipment, ensuring alignment with approved Sequences of Operations and deployment readiness across air-handling units, cooling systems, chillers, pumps, and electrical infrastructure.
• Own the full engineering lifecycle for legacy controls first of kind pilots, from request intake and technical review through field execution, results analysis, and go/no-go recommendations for broader rollout.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for complex controls issues that exceed existing procedures or support models, including traveling to facilities to support investigations and developing corrective actions. Review controls drawings, wiring diagrams, network topologies, equipment submittals, and deployed configurations to identify risks related to reliability, operability, and maintainability.
• Provide engineering support for proprietary and third‑party controls products by aggregating design update proposals and partnering with product and partner Controls teams to drive bug fixes and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain technical baselines, including test scripts, points lists, naming conventions, alarm thresholds, setpoints, code libraries, and engineering playbooks.
• Develop engineering standards and system-health metrics that improve control system reliability and standardization across the facility portfolio.
• Partner with facility operations, Commissioning, Design Engineering, Technical Program Managers, and partner Controls teams to resolve technical issues.

A day in the life

Each day you will interact with different teams responsible for all aspects of the data centers. You will prioritize your activities to support data center capacity availability and safety focusing on the actions that are most impactful. You will have the opportunity to work on projects locally and globally.

If you meet these qualifications, exude passion, and enjoy the challenge of innovative projects at hyper-scale, this job is for you!

About the team

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.

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.

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

Here at AWS, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.

Mentorship and Career Growth

We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.

Basic Qualifications

• 4+ years of industrial or commercial engineering in mission critical facilities including but not limited to: data centers, power generation or oil and gas facilities experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or an equivalent technical degree or experience.
• Must have a valid US driver’s license and reliable personal transportation by start date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience reading, interpreting, and creating construction drawings, specifications, and submittal documents
• Hands‑on experience with BMS,BAS, SCADA, PLC, or power monitoring platforms and industrial communication protocols such as BACnet, Modbus, MQTT, or OPC.
• Familiarity with mechanical and electrical systems including cooling (chillers, CRAHs, AHUs), power distribution (switchgear, UPS, generators, VFDs, ATSs), pumps, sensors, and field I/O.
• Experience writing and standardizing controls code (Python, structured text, ladder logic, function block), building reusable templates, and managing version control across multiple sites or equipment types.
• Proficiency using Python, SQL, and visualization tools to analyze time-series data from BMS, EPMS, SCADA, or historians, and building dashboards or pipelines to support system health monitoring and root‑cause analysis.
• Experience applying machine learning or generative AI tools to anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, fault classification, or engineering workflow automation, with sound data governance and output validation practices.

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

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, OH, COLUMBUS - 116,800.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually