Automation Engineer, Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering
About The Position
Amazon Web Services’ Hardware Engineering team is looking for experienced professionals to help build the world’s premier cloud computing platform. Our Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering team designs, validates, and deploys automation solutions — robotics, cobots, vision inspection, AI-powered quality systems, and automated assembly workflows — across contract manufacturer sites worldwide. You will architect the controls backbone and intelligent inspection strategy that makes every automated station self-verifying. This means defining how PLCs, sensors, cameras, AOI algorithms, and MES data connections integrate across every automation cell — creating a standardized, replicable controls and inspection package that deploys across all CM sites without re-engineering. You combine deep expertise in machine vision (AI-based defect classification, force sensing, AOI model training) with industrial controls architecture (PLC platforms, safety systems, network protocols). Your work turns a mechanical robot into an intelligent quality gate — catching defects at the point of assembly rather than at test or in the datacenter. Our scope covers all server and rack assembly across all architectures and platforms — compute, AI/ML accelerators, storage, and networking. We design 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).
Requirements
- BS/MS Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Controls Engineering, or equivalent
- 5+ years in industrial controls AND machine vision/automated optical inspection
- Proficiency in PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Beckhoff)
- Experience with machine vision platforms (Cognex, Keyence, Koh Young, or equivalent)
- Industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, OPC-UA)
- Experience designing controls architecture for multi-site standardization
Nice To Haves
- AI/ML-based defect classification and computer vision model development
- 4+ years PLC/SCADA integration experience
- Experience with precision measurement and inspection devices (optical inspection, force sensors, automated gauging)
- MES integration experience (SAP MES, iFactory, or equivalent manufacturing execution systems)
- SPC implementation and statistical process control methods
- High-complexity electronics or precision hardware manufacturing
- Experience defining controls standards that replicate across multiple facilities without re-engineering
Responsibilities
- Architect controls standard for all automation cells: PLC platform selection, network protocol, sensor architecture, safety system design
- Develop and optimize AOI inspection programs per product — validated, version-controlled, transferable across sites
- Drive false call rate reduction through iterative program tuning and AI-assisted defect classification
- Design sensor integration architecture connecting automation equipment to MES (iFactory) for 100% digital traceability
- Create standardized controls packages (PLC logic + HMI + sensor configs) replicable across all CM sites
- Perform equipment qualification, Gage R&R studies, and acceptance testing for vision/inspection systems
- Define controls safety architecture (E-stops, interlocks, light curtains) per ISO 13849 / IEC 62443
- Partner with Central Quality on inspection acceptance criteria and with MES teams on data integration requirements
Benefits
- 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
- parental leave
- sign-on payments
- restricted stock units (RSUs)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
