Automation Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Amazon Web Services' Hardware Engineering team is looking for experienced professionals to help build the world's premier cloud computing platform. The Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering team designs, validates, and deploys automation solutions, including robotics, cobots, vision inspection, AI-powered quality systems, and automated assembly workflows, across contract manufacturer sites worldwide.
About the Role: You will own end-to-end automation process engineering for the Ultraserver (AI/ML accelerator) platform family. This includes defining automated assembly sequences, specifying robotic cell requirements, developing process validation protocols, and driving automation deployment at contract manufacturer sites for this high-complexity platform. You serve as the single-threaded owner for all automation decisions affecting Ultraserver production, working with central engineering specialists (robotics, vision, controls, mechanical) to apply their capabilities to your platform's unique requirements. You translate platform-specific product design characteristics into automation process specifications. You work closely with the Product Design vertical (Hardware Engineering) to manage automation requirements, participate in design reviews, and provide early-stage feedback on assembly compatibility and design-for-automated-assembly considerations. You serve as the point of contact for automation during New Product Introduction (NPI), supporting the product design team in transitioning new Ultraserver platforms from prototype to production-ready automated assembly, ensuring automation readiness is built into the NPI process from the earliest stages. You also partner with the Manufacturing Process Quality vertical to define quality verification requirements for automated stations, validate process capability, and ensure automation solutions meet quality targets before production sign-off.
The scope covers all server and rack assembly across all architectures and platforms, including compute, AI/ML accelerators, storage, and networking. The team designs 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
• Own the complete automation process specification for Ultraserver platform assembly
• Define automated assembly sequences, station allocations, and process parameters for platform-specific operations
• Partner with Hardware Engineering to influence product design for automated assembly compatibility
• Develop process validation protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ) for automated stations on Ultraserver lines
• Drive automation deployment and ramp at contract manufacturer sites for the Ultraserver platform
• Identify automation opportunities specific to Ultraserver architecture and drive business case development
• Coordinate with central engineering specialists (robotics, vision, controls) to apply solutions to platform needs
• Own platform-specific automation KPIs: throughput, quality yield, automation rate, and cycle time targets
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Process Quality to define quality verification requirements and validate process capability for automated stations
• Serve as the automation point of contact during NPI, supporting product design teams in transitioning new Ultraserver designs to production-ready automated assembly
• Partner with Hardware Engineering (Product Design vertical) to manage automation requirements and participate in design reviews for new Ultraserver configurations
About the team
About the team: The Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering team is building a centralized automation Center of Excellence that owns the process specification and IP for how AWS hardware gets assembled. The 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. The team works 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, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent
- 7+ years in manufacturing process engineering with experience in automated assembly environments
- Experience developing process specifications for high-complexity electronic or hardware assembly
- Experience with process validation methodologies (e.g., IQ/OQ/PQ, PFMEA, process capability studies)
- Track record of deploying automation solutions in production environments
- Experience with multi-site manufacturing (deploying standard processes across geographies)
- Experience driving automation readiness during NPI from concept through production ramp
- Experience leading design reviews and providing DFM/DFA feedback to product engineering teams
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with AI/ML accelerator, GPU, or high-performance computing hardware assembly
- Thermal management and precision component assembly experience
- Experience with robotic assembly systems and collaborative robots
- Knowledge of design-for-automated-assembly (DFAA) principles
- Electronics, server, or data center hardware manufacturing environment
- Experience managing cross-functional technical programs
- Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)
- Cross-functional leadership with product design, quality, and operations teams
- Experience serving as automation or manufacturing engineering lead during new product introduction cycles
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company's reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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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, CA, Cupertino - 183,000.00 - 247,600.00 USD annually
USA, TX, Houston - 159,200.00 - 215,300.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 159,200.00 - 215,300.00 USD annually