Senior Automation Controls Engineer

Blue Origin LLC; Central (TX); On-site; USD 182,000 - 254,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Parental Leave

Disability Insurance

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Stock Options

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking an experienced Automation Controls Engineer to own the design, build, and commissioning of in‑house automated manufacturing systems. You will define control architectures, oversee integration across R&D, design, build, installation, and ramp‑up, and drive turnkey solutions in a fast‑paced environment.

You will lead from concept through production ramp‑up, collaborate with cross‑functional teams, and ensure safety and reliability of manufacturing systems across Blue

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Controls, or related engineering field.
• Minimum 6 years of hands‑on experience developing and integrating industrial controls and automation systems from scratch.
• Experience with PLC and HMI programming as core competencies; control system architecture design.
• Experience with industrial safety system design including safety PLCs and safety‑rated circuits.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or legally admitted to the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with applications engineers in conceptual automated manufacturing equipment development.
• Design control system architectures: network topology, I/O distribution, safety, and communications.
• Lead industrial controls and electrical design of bespoke automation systems.
• Develop offline simulations to validate control logic, paths, times, and behavior.
• Transition from offline development to online debugging and commissioning of PLC/HMI/robotics.
• Integrate auxiliary equipment into unified control systems and support installation teams.
• Lead factory and site acceptance testing and system start‑up.
• Create controls documentation: operations sequences, I/O lists, diagrams, and docs.

Skills

Controls design

PLC programming

HMI programming

Robotics integration

Industrial networking

Safety systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Controls

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

EPLAN

Cognex Vision

KUKA.Sim/RobotStudio

Plant Simulate

Job description

Application close date: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

About This Role

Blue Origin's Factory Automation team is part of the Advanced Manufacturing organization within Operations — serving as the in-house automation integrator responsible for designing, building, and deploying the custom equipment and systems that enable scalable, repeatable production across Blue Origin's manufacturing business units. We build manufacturing capability from the ground up — developing automated solutions that directly drive the delivery of Blue Origin's products across current and future programs. We are looking for an experienced Automation Controls Engineer who brings deep hands‑on expertise in industrial controls design and automation systems integration — someone who thrives in a build‑it-and‑commission‑it environment, moves with urgency, and takes full technical ownership from concept through production ramp‑up. This role goes beyond pure controls engineering: you will drive projects end‑to‑end, navigating R&D, design, build, installation, and commissioning while coordinating across a broad range of stakeholders and disciplines. You will define control system architectures, set technical standards, and deliver solutions that work in the real world — including challenging product design teams to design for automated manufacturing when requirements complicate scalable automation. A passion for our mission — and for the discipline of building systems that work — is essential.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with applications engineers in the development of conceptual automated manufacturing equipment, providing controls architecture input and feedback from concept through detailed design
• Design control system architectures including network topology, I/O distribution, safety systems, and communication protocols
• Lead industrial controls and electrical design of bespoke automation systems
• Develop offline simulations of automated systems — ranging from discrete work cells to fully automated product lines — to validate control logic, robot paths, cycle times, and system behavior from concept through final design, including pre-programming and virtual commissioning prior to hardware availability
• Transition from offline development to online debugging and commissioning of PLC, HMI, robot, and similar industrial controls programs from scratch
• Integrate auxiliary equipment, machines, and tools into unified control systems
• Work with panel fabricators and field installation teams; provide technical support during system integration and commissioning
• Lead factory and site acceptance testing
• Lead the build, installation, commissioning, and start‑up of automated manufacturing systems
• Create and deliver controls documentation packages including sequence of operations, I/O lists, network diagrams, and program documentation

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Controls, or related engineering field
• Minimum 6 years of hands‑on experience developing and integrating industrial controls and automation systems from scratch — including PLC and HMI programming as core competencies, control system architecture design (network topology, I/O distribution, safety systems, multi‑platform communication protocols), and broad exposure to industrial automation platforms such as robots, material handling systems (gantries, AGVs, conveyors), CNC machine integration, NDT, assembly, testing, and process tools (torque, welding, grinding, or similar)
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and review electrical and mechanical drawings
• Experience with industrial safety system design including functional safety devices, safety PLCs, and safety‑rated circuits
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with industrial automation and machine safety standards including IEC 61131, ANSI B11, NFPA 79, RIA R15.06, and functional safety standards (IEC 62061 / ISO 13849), including experience conducting or supporting formal risk assessments
• Experience utilizing industrial automation simulation software for offline programming, virtual commissioning, and full production line simulation — including tools such as Plant Simulate, Process Simulate, Visual Components, KUKA.Sim, RobotStudio, or similar
• Experience with industrial machine vision systems, including custom application development using platforms such as Cognex — encompassing out‑of‑the‑box configuration, novel programming, and machine learning (ML)-based inspection and guidance solutions
• Experience building, modifying, and troubleshooting electrical control panels
• Experience with electrical design for industrial control systems using AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or similar electrical CAD platforms
• Demonstrated history of delivering custom automated manufacturing systems from concept through production ramp‑up

Base Pay Range for: CO applicants is $181,626.00 - $254,275.35
Other site ranges may differ.

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check Required for all positions

Blue’s Standard Background Check Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation. Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training. Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical.

Benefits

• Medical
• dental
• vision
• basic and supplemental life insurance
• paid parental leave
• short and long-term disability
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%
• Education Support Program
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company‑paid holidays
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company’s intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company’s results, or other factors at the company’s sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

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We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission‑driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves. Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.

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