Automation Controls Engineer III

Blue Origin's Factory Automation team designs, builds, and deploys custom equipment and systems that enable scalable production across our manufacturing business units. You'll work across R&D, design, build, installation, and commissioning on real hardware that directly enables delivery of our space products.

What You'll Do

• Collaborate with applications engineers on conceptual automated manufacturing equipment, contributing controls architecture from concept through detailed design
• Design and support control system architectures including network topology, I/O distribution, safety systems, and communication protocols
• Participate in industrial controls and electrical design of bespoke automation systems
• Apply engineering first principles to analyze system behavior, identify root causes, and develop solutions to novel automation challenges
• Develop offline simulations of automated systems to validate control logic, robot paths, cycle times, and system behavior before hardware is available
• Support and execute online debugging and commissioning of PLC, HMI, robot, and industrial controls programs
• Integrate auxiliary equipment, machines, and tools into unified control systems
• Work with panel fabricators and field installation teams during system integration and commissioning
• Lead factory and site acceptance testing, and support build, installation, and start-up of automated manufacturing systems
• Create controls documentation packages including sequence of operations, I/O lists, network diagrams, and program documentation

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Controls, or related engineering field
• Minimum 4 years hands-on experience developing or integrating industrial controls and automation systems, with PLC and HMI programming as core competencies
• Exposure to one or more industrial automation platforms such as robots, material handling systems (gantries, AGVs, conveyors), CNC machine integration, NDT, assembly, testing, or process tools (torque, welding, grinding, or similar)
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and review electrical and mechanical drawings
• Experience with industrial safety system design including functional safety devices, safety PLCs, and safety-rated circuits
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with industrial automation and machine safety standards including IEC 61131, ANSI B11, NFPA 79, RIA R15.06, and functional safety standards (IEC 62061 / ISO 13849)
• Experience with industrial automation simulation software such as Plant Simulate, Process Simulate, Visual Components, KUKA.Sim, RobotStudio, or similar
• Experience with industrial machine vision systems, including configuration using platforms such as Cognex
• Experience building, modifying, or troubleshooting electrical control panels
• Experience with electrical design for industrial control systems using AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or similar electrical CAD platforms
• Demonstrated history of delivering custom automated manufacturing systems from concept through production ramp-up
• Demonstrated ability to apply engineering fundamentals including mechanics, electronics, and control theory to diagnose complex system failures

Compensation

Base pay range for CO applicants: $150,931 to $211,303. Other site ranges may differ.

Employment Details

Full-time, onsite. Standard background check required. Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check required if role requires access to military installations.