Amazon Devices is seeking a talented and motivated Senior Controls Engineer to join our Device Postponement Operations (DPO) team. In this role, you will own the design, development, and delivery of automation controls systems for next-generation manufacturing and postponement operations across U.S. and EU/UK locations. You will architect PLC-based controls solutions, integrate robotics and vision systems, commission complex automation lines, and drive continuous improvement of system performance and reliability. You will also bring project management discipline to ensure your programs deliver on time and on budget.
This is a hands-on controls engineering leadership role. You will design controls architectures, program PLCs and HMIs, develop motion profiles, and validate system performance from FAT through SAT and production release. You will lead vendor engagements with external automation integrators and contractors, negotiate technical approaches, manage deliverables, and ensure delivered systems meet performance, reliability, and cost targets. You will also drive MES integration strategies to enable real-time production visibility and OEE optimization.
The ideal candidate is first and foremost a strong controls engineer - deep hands-on expertise in PLC/HMI programming, motion control, robotics integration, vision systems, and industrial networking. What makes this role unique is that we also value project management skills, a hardware/CAD sensibility, and experience managing external contractors. You thrive in environments where requirements are not fully defined, and you bring structure and clarity through technical leadership and end-to-end systems thinking.
Key job responsibilities
Own controls system architecture for complex manufacturing automation lines, including PLC/HMI programming, motion control, robotics integration, and vision systems
Design and develop end-to-end automation systems from concept to commissioning: define requirements, design the controls solution, validate through FAT/SAT, document specifications, select suppliers, and drive production deployment - delivering extensible, maintainable systems that are innovative, reliable, cost-effective, and manufacturable at scale
Design and deploy machine vision systems for automated inspection - including cosmetic inspection, defect detection, dimensional verification, and barcode/label validation - selecting cameras, lighting, and software platforms and validating inspection accuracy against quality standards
Lead the full project lifecycle of automation programs - developing and maintaining project schedules, decomposing functional requirements, managing budgets, tracking milestones, and disseminating status to stakeholders across engineering, operations, and leadership
Manage external automation integrators, contractors, and vendors: negotiate technical approaches, manage deliverables and timelines, and hold contractors/suppliers accountable to cost, quality, and schedule targets across multiple geographies
Travel to manufacturing sites and vendor facilities across U.S. and EU/UK for equipment FATs, line commissioning, production support, and integrator oversight - serving as the on-site technical authority during critical project phases
Drive MES/SCADA integration strategies, designing data collection architectures, enabling real-time production visibility, and driving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) improvement through controls optimization and predictive maintenance strategies
Contribute hardware/CAD expertise in fixture/tooling/layout design, reviewing CAD models and engineering drawings, and participating in hardware design decisions that impact controls architecture and system integration
Create comprehensive test and validation plans that thoroughly validate controls designs and efficiently address system integration challenges across mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces
Identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks at the program level - finding paths forward in difficult situations and making pragmatic trade-offs between short-term needs and long-term system roadmaps
Design project strategies that decompose complex programs, appropriately splitting work into components to be designed and developed by others in parallel, then reassembling successfully into a cohesive system design
Create mechanisms to reduce repeat issues - standardize controls platforms, improve manufacturing involvement in design, and drive best practices across the automation engineering team
Collaborate cross-functionally to support extensible solution development and integration across hardware, software, manufacturing, automation, and quality disciplines
Mentor and develop junior engineers, contribute to hiring, perform technical assessments, and actively participate in design reviews that improve delivery quality across the organization
About the team
Device Postponement Operations (DPO) is Amazon Lab126's team responsible for in-region postponement, customization, and pack-out of Amazon's innovative devices. We finalize the assembly of devices using automated assembly and pack-out lines so that Amazon can customize products to meet just-in-time demand. We enable Amazon to deliver very quickly to our customers the right configuration of a product at low cost and high quality.
Amazon's Lab126 began in 2004 as a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc., originally creating the best-selling Kindle family of products. Lab126 have produced groundbreaking devices like Fire TV, the Echo Family of products, and Astro. We deliver delightfully unique Amazon experiences, giving customers instant access to everything, digital, or physical.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in developing functional specifications, design verification plans and functional test procedures
- Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in robotics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field
- 7+ years of industrial controls and automation experience, or Master's degree in computer science or electrical engineering
- 3+ years of PLC programming experience
- Experience designing or implementing integrated automation solutions such as material handling systems, high-speed packaging lines, or manufacturing lines
- Experience carrying design concepts through exploration, development, and into deployment or mass production
- Experience leading vendor/integrator relationships and managing external contractors to deliver technical solutions on time and on budget
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of working in industrial controls and automation experience
- Experience using one or more of the following technologies (e.g., AutoCAD, Rhino, Revit, SolidWorks, CREO, SketchUp, KeyShot, etc.) to deliver high quality models and designs
- Experience with industrial robotics
- 3+ years of PLC/SCADA integration experience
- 3+ years of integration, testing and automation experience
- Experience designing complex systems for automation in logistics or manufacturing, or experience with product development in automotive, aerospace, automation equipment or related field
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, TX, Dallas - 137,300.00 - 185,700.00 USD annually
