Amazon Web Services’ Hardware Engineering team is looking for experienced professionals to help build the world’s premier cloud computing platform. Our Manufacturing Automation Design & Engineering team designs, validates, and deploys automation solutions — robotics, cobots, vision inspection, AI-powered quality systems, and automated assembly workflows — across contract manufacturer sites worldwide.
About the Role: You will execute production line layout optimization and capacity modeling within the automation architecture defined by the L6 engineering team. This means integrating robotic cells, sub-assembly stations, manual workstations, and material flow paths into production systems that achieve target throughput across multiple product families. You conduct time/motion studies, line balancing simulations, and floor layout iterations that help transform manual factories into automated facilities while maintaining production continuity. You partner with contract manufacturer site teams to implement layouts and validate throughput targets during ramp.
The scope covers all server and rack assembly across all architectures and platforms — 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
• Design automated line layouts with robotic cell positioning, workstation placement, and material flow paths at contract manufacturer sites
• Conduct time/motion studies and line balancing to achieve target cycle times and UPH across platforms
• Develop capacity models with bottleneck identification supporting production planning decisions
• Create standard work documentation and throughput models by product mix applicable across contract manufacturers
• Perform site-to-site benchmarking on throughput per square foot and labor productivity
• Own value stream maps identifying non-value-added steps and automation opportunities
• Design floor layouts for automation POC labs at contract manufacturer sites
• Partner with contract manufacturer site teams on layout implementation and validate throughput targets during ramp
• Design flexible line architectures supporting platform transition across product generations
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
- BS/MS Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent
- 5+ years designing production line layouts and capacity models in high-volume manufacturing
- Experience with time/motion studies, line balancing, takt time analysis, and value stream mapping
- Proficiency in layout design tools (AutoCAD, factory simulation software)
- Experience optimizing multi-product production systems on shared lines
- Track record of implementing layout changes that improved throughput or reduced cycle time
Preferred qualifications
- Simulation tools (FlexSim, Arena, Plant Simulation, or equivalent)
- Experience with automated line design (robotic cells integrated with manual stations)
- Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)
- Multi-site manufacturing optimization (deploying standard layouts across geographies)
- Electronics, PCB assembly, or server hardware manufacturing environment
- Experience with material flow analysis and automated conveyance systems
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit
https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
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, KY, Cincinnati - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
Senior Software Engineer - Backend
