Control System Development Engineer, Amazon Robotics
Amazon
Full-time
On-site
Seattle, Washington, United States
$116,300 - $201,200 USD yearly
Do you want to create worldwide impact in robotics while solving challenges at the edge of robotics research? Our team in Amazon Robotics builds high-performance, real-time robotic systems that can perceive, learn, and act intelligently alongside humans - at Amazon scale. Our mission is to enable robots to interact safely, efficiently, and fluently with the clutter and uncertainty of real-world fulfillment centers. Our solutions enable robots to learn from their own experiences, from each other, and from humans to build intelligence that feeds itself.
We are seeking an experienced System Development Engineer specializing in Safety and Sensors to join our Motion Planning and Control team. In this role, you will be responsible for selecting, integrating, and managing sensors and safety systems that enhance the robustness and safety of our robotic solutions. You will work on complex interactions between conveyors, buffer walls, robotic arms, and other custom degrees of freedom, ensuring our systems meet the highest safety standards while maintaining operational efficiency. Your expertise will be critical in delivering reliable, safe, and efficient systems that support our operations teams and service technicians.
Key job responsibilities
- Develop and implement safety architectures for robotic workcells, including emergency stop systems, safety PLCs, light curtains, and interlock systems.
- Evaluate, select, and integrate sensors such as proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, vision systems, and force/torque sensors to enhance system robustness and performance.
- Conduct risk assessments for robotic systems, identifying potential hazards and implementing appropriate safeguards in compliance with relevant safety standards.
- Develop test plans and perform system testing and validation to ensure safety functions and sensor performance meet requirements.
- Create and maintain documentation related to safety systems, including safety manuals, schematics, and compliance reports, and work with regulatory bodies to ensure necessary certifications.
- Work with cross-functional teams—including hardware engineers, software developers, and operations personnel—to develop integrated solutions and provide technical guidance to junior engineers.
- 15% travel expected to support onsite system testing
A day in the life
Amazon offers a full range of benefits for you and eligible family members, including domestic partners and their children. Benefits can vary by location, the number of regularly scheduled hours you work, length of employment, and job status such as seasonal or temporary employment. The benefits that generally apply to regular, full-time employees include:
1. Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
2. Maternity and Parental Leave Options
3. Paid Time Off (PTO)
4. 401(k) Plan
If you are not sure that every qualification on the list above describes you exactly, we'd still love to hear from you! At Amazon, we value people with unique backgrounds, experiences, and skillsets. If you’re passionate about this role and want to make an impact on a global scale, please apply!
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in developing and integrating safety systems and sensors in industrial automation or robotics.
- Strong knowledge of safety standards and regulations (e.g., ISO 13849, IEC 61508, OSHA).
- Experience with safety PLCs, safety relays, and safety-rated components.
- Proficiency in programming experience with PLCs, in structured text (ladder logic is optional).
- Basic knowledge and understanding of high-level language programming such as Python, C++ or C.
- Experience with industrial communication protocols (e.g., EtherCAT, OPC-UA, Modbus).
- Master's degree in Engineering or related field.
- Certified Functional Safety Engineer or equivalent certification.
- Experience with Bosch Rexroth systems (Ctrlx Safety Engineering, Ctlx Drive Engineering)
- Experience with Functional Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE)
- Experience integrating sensors and safety systems with robotic control systems
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
- Experience working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.
Amazon is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.amazon.jobs/en/disability/us.
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $116,300/year in our lowest geographic market up to $201,200/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits. This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.
We are seeking an experienced System Development Engineer specializing in Safety and Sensors to join our Motion Planning and Control team. In this role, you will be responsible for selecting, integrating, and managing sensors and safety systems that enhance the robustness and safety of our robotic solutions. You will work on complex interactions between conveyors, buffer walls, robotic arms, and other custom degrees of freedom, ensuring our systems meet the highest safety standards while maintaining operational efficiency. Your expertise will be critical in delivering reliable, safe, and efficient systems that support our operations teams and service technicians.
Key job responsibilities
- Develop and implement safety architectures for robotic workcells, including emergency stop systems, safety PLCs, light curtains, and interlock systems.
- Evaluate, select, and integrate sensors such as proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, vision systems, and force/torque sensors to enhance system robustness and performance.
- Conduct risk assessments for robotic systems, identifying potential hazards and implementing appropriate safeguards in compliance with relevant safety standards.
- Develop test plans and perform system testing and validation to ensure safety functions and sensor performance meet requirements.
- Create and maintain documentation related to safety systems, including safety manuals, schematics, and compliance reports, and work with regulatory bodies to ensure necessary certifications.
- Work with cross-functional teams—including hardware engineers, software developers, and operations personnel—to develop integrated solutions and provide technical guidance to junior engineers.
- 15% travel expected to support onsite system testing
A day in the life
Amazon offers a full range of benefits for you and eligible family members, including domestic partners and their children. Benefits can vary by location, the number of regularly scheduled hours you work, length of employment, and job status such as seasonal or temporary employment. The benefits that generally apply to regular, full-time employees include:
1. Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
2. Maternity and Parental Leave Options
3. Paid Time Off (PTO)
4. 401(k) Plan
If you are not sure that every qualification on the list above describes you exactly, we'd still love to hear from you! At Amazon, we value people with unique backgrounds, experiences, and skillsets. If you’re passionate about this role and want to make an impact on a global scale, please apply!
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in developing and integrating safety systems and sensors in industrial automation or robotics.
- Strong knowledge of safety standards and regulations (e.g., ISO 13849, IEC 61508, OSHA).
- Experience with safety PLCs, safety relays, and safety-rated components.
- Proficiency in programming experience with PLCs, in structured text (ladder logic is optional).
- Basic knowledge and understanding of high-level language programming such as Python, C++ or C.
- Experience with industrial communication protocols (e.g., EtherCAT, OPC-UA, Modbus).
- Master's degree in Engineering or related field.
- Certified Functional Safety Engineer or equivalent certification.
- Experience with Bosch Rexroth systems (Ctrlx Safety Engineering, Ctlx Drive Engineering)
- Experience with Functional Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE)
- Experience integrating sensors and safety systems with robotic control systems
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
- Experience working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.
Amazon is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.amazon.jobs/en/disability/us.
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $116,300/year in our lowest geographic market up to $201,200/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits. This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.