Automation Process Engineer, Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering

About the Role

You will architect the robotic and collaborative robot cells that form the core of AWS's automation IP — from concept through production validation. These are the systems that eliminate manual assembly variability: automated fastening with 100% torque verification, precision component insertion with force-feedback and vision inspection, and multi-platform assembly cells that serve multiple product families through recipe-based changeover. You own the end-to-end cell design — robot selection, motion planning, end-of-arm tooling, safety architecture, and the replication package that allows a proven cell to deploy at any CM site globally without re-engineering. You lead external automation solution providers through design, build, and acceptance — ensuring solutions meet AWS specifications for global scalability. 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).

Key Job Responsibilities

• Design robotic work cells from concept: cell layout, robot selection, tool / fixture design, safety zone definitions
• Program and optimize robot paths for pick-and-place, component assembly, precision insertion, and automated fastening operations
• Design human-robot collaborative workflows for cobot applications (heavy component assist, repetitive tasks)
• Conduct safety assessments per ISO 10218 (industrial) and ISO/TS 15066 (collaborative)
• Lead 3P automation solution providers in solution design, build, and acceptance
• Create standardized work cell replication packages for deployment across all CM sites with maximum cross-generation reuse
• Conduct ROI analyses and technology evaluations for new robotic/cobot solutions
• Validate automation cells against cycle time, quality, and reliability targets before production sign-off

About the Team

We are building a centralized automation Center of Excellence that owns the process specification and IP for how AWS hardware gets assembled. The Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering team is responsible for engineering — defining automated process requirements, designing and proving solutions at proof-of-concept, and maintaining AWS-owned intellectual property that scales globally. We work within a collaborative framework across Hardware Engineering (product design for automation), Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering (process specification and validation), and Manufacturing Operations (deployment and scaling) — ensuring automation is engineered once, proven once, and deployed everywhere.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or equivalent
• 7+ years designing and deploying industrial robotic systems and/or collaborative robots in manufacturing environments
• Proficiency in robot programming and offline simulation (FANUC TP/Karel, ABB RAPID, KUKA KRL, Universal Robots PolyScope, or equivalent)
• Experience designing end-of-arm tooling for automated assembly (mechanical grippers, vacuum end-effectors, tool changers, force-limited end-effectors)
• Experience with precision assembly automation (component insertion, automated fastening, torque verification, force-feedback control)
• Knowledge of industrial robot safety standards (ISO 10218-1/2, ISO/TS 15066, risk assessment methodologies)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with vision-guided robotics and force/torque sensing for precision assembly applications (i.e., 2D/3D vision-guided pick-and-place, force-controlled insertion, torque-verified fastening, adaptive gripping)
• Experience with precision torque, measurement and inspection devices (i.e., automated and manual torque wrenches, calipers, micrometers, profilometers, optical inspection devices, multi-meters, torque wrenches)
• Experience designing standardized robotic work cells for replication across multiple manufacturing sites (i.e., same cell architecture deployed at 2+ facilities with minimal re-engineering)
• Experience with PLC integration and industrial communication protocols (i.e., EtherNet/IP, Profinet, OPC-UA, EtherCAT) for robotic cell connectivity
• Experience with automation in electronics, server, or high-complexity precision hardware assembly environments
• Experience leading technical evaluations and acceptance testing of automation vendors or system integrators (i.e., RFQ development, FAT/SAT, runoff criteria, design reviews)
• Experience with recipe-based automation systems (i.e., same robotic cell serving multiple product variants via software changeover, parameterized programs, no mechanical retooling)