Controls Design Engineer, Controls Design Engineering

Controls Design Engineer, Controls Design Engineering Overview

AWS Infrastructure Services is responsible for designing, planning, delivering, and operating the global infrastructure that keeps AWS running. The team supports data centers and the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling systems that allow customers to access cloud services continuously. This role sits within AWS Data Center Global Services on the Controls Design Engineering team, which develops and maintains global standards for controls, automation, and electrical power monitoring across the data center portfolio.

As a Controls Design Engineer, you will own and coordinate key controls documentation and standards, including building management system and electrical power monitoring system specifications, controls point lists, basis-of-design documents, and project scopes of work. The position acts as a central technical contact for a wide range of internal and external partners across new construction, retrofit and enhancement work, facility support, and special innovation initiatives. The work is intended to improve consistency, reduce risk, and lower cost across AWS’s global delivery model.

What you will do

• Build and maintain deep technical expertise in building operations, mechanical plant strategies, BMS/EPMS programming, control diagrams, industrial HVAC, electrical lineups, one-line diagrams, and other complex environmental and electrical systems.
• Use knowledge of redundancy, failure strategies, single-point-of-failure analysis, and energy and water conservation practices to strengthen data center design standards.
• Write, update, and distribute global specifications, basis-of-design standards, project-specific scopes of work, and related engineering documentation.
• Develop and refine project scopes so they align with AWS global standards and support consistent execution across regions and delivery methods.
• Act as the main technical point of contact for multiple stakeholder groups involved in controls standards and project delivery.
• Coordinate with construction teams, controls programmers, MEP/ACS engineers, design engineering, colocation regional engineering, and project managers to move initiatives forward.
• Work directly with regional project managers to review, adjust, and finalize scopes of work.
• Prioritize and manage requests for information across new builds, existing site support, and legacy site improvement efforts.
• Lead vendor selection, review bid packages, support RFIs, and assess vendor submittals and technical documents against AWS requirements.
• Review and approve Modbus Device Templates for meters and control devices.
• Operate effectively in high-security, mission-critical environments while maintaining safety and productivity.
• Use AWS cloud tools and applications to present, archive, and analyze control-system data.
• Participate in on-call support for the global data center controls environment.
• Identify risks and blockers early, escalate issues when needed, and drive resolution.
• Travel as needed to support projects, including domestic and international travel of roughly 25%.
• Join design reviews, gather lessons learned, and help create unified solutions that can be applied across leased, owned, build-to-suit, and colocation facilities.
• Support site assessments and project lifecycle reviews to identify and reduce technical and delivery risk.
• Work across several projects at the same time, often independently, and resolve unexpected technical challenges quickly.
• Evaluate the performance of external consultants and ensure their work meets AWS quality expectations.
• Help drive cost savings by reducing change orders, closing scope gaps, limiting schedule delays, improving vendor pricing, and lowering engineering and project management effort through standardization and clear documentation.

Day-to-day focus

In this team, you will work alongside experienced data center professionals and innovators. Your day-to-day work may include leading electrical and mechanical controls design for critical infrastructure projects such as high-voltage substations, leased data centers, and colocation facilities. You will also help develop new processes and standards and test new ideas in the controls space, using Amazon leadership principles as a guide.

Team and culture

AWS emphasizes diverse experience and encourages applicants to apply even if they do not meet every preferred qualification. The company states that non-traditional career paths and alternative experience are welcome. The broader AWS culture highlights inclusion, curiosity, knowledge sharing, mentorship, and career development. Amazon also says it values work-life harmony and aims to support flexibility so employees can succeed both at work and at home.

Required experience and skills

• At least four years of engineering experience in industrial or commercial mission-critical environments, such as data centers, power generation, or oil and gas facilities.
• At least four years of experience in engineering, installation, or startup and commissioning of electrical and mechanical systems.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Experience researching new designs, technologies, and construction methods for data center equipment and facilities.
• Good understanding of electrical diagrams, control diagrams, building operations, control circuits, and industrial HVAC systems.
• Ability to interpret mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings, as well as construction drawings, specifications, and submittal documents.
• Ability to work in high-security, critical environments and remain productive while following safety expectations.
• Strong collaboration, leadership, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and solve complex problems quickly.
• Ability to review vendor bid packages and make sound selection recommendations.
• Willingness to participate in on-call support and travel as required.

Preferred background

• Professional Engineer licensure.
• Experience with building codes and regulations in the relevant region.
• Experience moving design concepts from early exploration through development and into deployment or production.
• Experience reading, interpreting, and creating construction drawings, specifications, and submittal packages.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Practical experience with building operations, electrical generation and distribution equipment such as generators and UPS systems, mechanical plant equipment such as AHUs and chillers, and related controls systems.
• Experience managing external consultants and ensuring high-quality delivery.
• Experience with data center controls, automation, or similar infrastructure systems.

Additional notes

Amazon states that it is an equal opportunities employer and makes hiring decisions based on experience and skills. The company also says it does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status. Candidates who need support or adjustments during the application, interview, or onboarding process can request workplace accommodations through Amazon’s accommodations process.

The posting does not mention visa sponsorship or UK work authorization requirements.

Degree Requirement: Not Specified

Visa Sponsorship May be