Blue Origin

Sr. Automation Controls Engineer

Blue Origin$197K — $276K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Controls, or related engineering field
  • Minimum 6 years of hands-on experience in industrial controls and automation systems
  • Proficient in PLC and HMI programming with broad exposure to industrial automation platforms
  • Demonstrated ability to interpret and review electrical and mechanical drawings
  • Experience in industrial safety system design including safety PLCs and safety-rated circuits

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with applications engineers for automated manufacturing equipment design
  • Design control system architectures including safety systems and communication protocols
  • Lead the design of bespoke automation systems
  • Develop offline simulations for automated systems validation
  • Transition from offline development to commissioning of industrial controls programs
  • Integrate auxiliary equipment into control systems
  • Create and deliver comprehensive controls documentation packages

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Short and long-term disability
  • 401(k) plan with up to 5% company match
  • Education Support Program
  • Stock options for all regular employees
  • Up to four weeks paid time off and up to 14 paid holidays
Full Job Description

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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.

Sr. Automation Controls Engineer

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-onexpertisein 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 

 


 

Compensation Range for:

WA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55

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 (CDL drivers only), 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

  • Benefits include:  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%, and an 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.

About Blue Origin

Blue Origin is an aerospace company that develops rockets and spacecraft for commercial and government customers. The company's products include the New Shepard suborbital vehicle and the New Glenn orbital rocket. Blue Origin was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos and is headquartered in Kent, Washington.
Learn more about Blue Origin
Size
3,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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