Embedded Automation Architect — Factory Automation Group

BLUE ORIGIN•Huntsville, AL

1d•$197,529 - $276,540•Hybrid

About The Position

The Embedded Automation Architect role is part of Blue Origin Operations, specifically within the Factory Automation Group. This position is embedded within a specific Blue Origin business unit (New Glenn, Engines, Lunar, In-Space Systems, or a production site) while reporting into the central Factory Automation Group. The architect serves as the single point of automation strategy for their assigned business unit, responsible for building a multi-year automation roadmap aligned with Blue's shared automation backbone. Key duties include deciding what to automate and in what order, resolving make-versus-buy decisions, and managing projects from concept through to production. This is an architect and technical-leadership role focused on setting technical direction, increasingly AI-enabled, for automation, rather than a hands-on build role. The architect will be measured on the roadmap originated and the recurring cost savings achieved. They will bring deep controls and robotics expertise to influence the automation footprint of a program at a strategic level.

Requirements

8+ years in automation, controls, or robotics engineering, including hands-on design and integration of custom robotic cells and special machines from start to finish.
Demonstrated experience owning automation strategy or a multi-project roadmap across a product line or facility.
Deep working knowledge of PLC/controls platforms (Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff), industrial robots (KUKA, FANUC, ABB), motion systems, and vision.
Demonstrated understanding of IT/OT interconnectivity, including how engineering and business systems connect to shop-floor controls and how data flows across the IT/OT boundary.
Practical fluency with AI-enabled automation approaches (machine-generated programming, ML vision/inspection, model-to-motion digital-thread tooling) and sound judgment on AI's appropriate use in controls.
Sound make-versus-buy and build-versus-integrator judgment, with the financial literacy to build and defend a business case.
Experience applying design-for-manufacturing / design-for-automation principles upstream of a build.
Strong grasp of manufacturing processes (machining, welding, sheet-metal fabrication, assembly) and safety/ergonomic standards for industrial automation.
Exceptional communication and stakeholder-influence skills.
Willingness to embed on-site with the assigned business unit and to travel between Blue facilities.
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.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's or Master's degree in electrical engineering, mechatronics, automation, or a related field.
Experience at a system integrator or custom industrial automation company.
Hands-on experience with IT/OT integration technologies (industrial connectivity protocols like OPC UA, MQTT, historians, edge computing, network and security architecture).
Familiarity with model-based definition (MBD/PMI), digital-thread / MES architecture, and data flow to CAM/CMM/work instructions.
Track record of building internal tools (AI-assisted or otherwise) that improved automation team workflow.
Experience with cost-decomposition analysis to target automation investment.
Aerospace or other regulated, high-mix / low-volume manufacturing experience.
CNC machine integration experience.
Proficiency with SCADA platforms (Ignition, WinCC, FactoryTalk).
Ability to interpret and review mechanical drawings, and to create 3D layouts and robot simulations.
Experience with project and ticket management.

Responsibilities

Own and continuously maintain the automation roadmap for your assigned business unit, built against Blue's shared automation standards, template library, and digital thread.
Prioritize automation investment using category economics, identifying areas of trapped recurring labor and cost, and ranking candidates by savings potential against capital and schedule.
Lead make-versus-buy decisions for automation systems, applying Blue's build-versus-integrator economics.
Enforce design-for-automation upstream by partnering with design and engineering teams to freeze designs, collapse part count, and reduce fasteners.
Architect AI-enabled automation where it earns its place, including model-driven machine-generated programming, ML-based in-process inspection, and agentic planning, while maintaining human oversight on safety- and fracture-critical characteristics.
Work AI-natively in engineering tasks, using AI assistants for code generation, documentation, and design acceleration, and identifying or building reusable automation tools for wider adoption.
Champion the single digital thread within the business unit, ensuring model-based definition flows through the MES/work-order gateway to the machine and live-data returns, eliminating IT/OT boundary re-keying.
Translate roadmap items into scoped projects and hand them to central Factory Automation build teams, staying accountable through design reviews, prototyping, commissioning, and production hand-off.
Ensure every cell lands with its maintenance basis, spares position, and telemetry hooks defined alongside its process design.
Build and defend the financial case for the roadmap (payback, capital intensity, savings ramp) to leadership and support Finance reviews.
Interface as the trusted automation authority for the business unit, advising program leadership on automation feasibility, desirability, and cost.