Sr. Controls Engineer, Device Postponement Operations (DPO)

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