Warehouse Automation Engineer

About the role

This Warehouse Automation Engineering position is responsible for identifying, evaluating, piloting, and deploying new warehouse automation technologies, followed by the installation and optimization of these technologies. The role drives efficiencies to grow existing business and win new business by differentiating Ryder through dedicated teams and capabilities.

You will work directly with internal operations, solution design, continuous improvement, information technology, product teams, and stakeholders to identify, select, and deploy new technology with automation partners. The role involves consulting with internal and external contacts to demonstrate the value and feasibility of warehouse automation capabilities, creating a competitive differentiator.

Responsibilities

• Lead minor RFP projects and support the lead engineer on major RFP projects by identifying and validating automation technologies for new business sales.
• Build ROI and justification models based on multiple criteria to select optimal solution designs and support the creation of presentations with the Lead Automation Solutions Engineer.
• Support contractual validation by identifying gaps in vendor Functional Specification Documents (FSD) and Scope of Work (SOW) using the FSD Checklist process.
• Provide input on automation solution designs to ensure key implementation and operational performance considerations are addressed. Review design options for clearance, power requirements, cost-effectiveness, and SLA targets.
• Assist in building collateral for vendor technology reviews and requests for quotes. Evaluate design options from various vendors and solutions.
• Manage smaller implementation projects, including updating punch lists and project plans, and tracking milestones and requirements.
• Attend implementation status calls as needed, verify and prioritize on-site support, and handle escalation events. Coordinate support for on-site teams during post-go-live hypercare.
• Support on-site Solution Acceptance Test (SAT) testing plans and track punch list items post-go-live for uptime.
• Perform data analytics to profile data from dashboards and systems, supporting system optimization projects. Analyze reports from technology control systems and WMS/WES.
• Support Solutions Acceptance Testing (SAT) and punch list tracking.
• Review team strategy with your manager to set personal goals and validate spend to support project budget tracking.
• Partner with vendors to resolve Priority 1-5 tickets related to degraded or down performance of site automation. Join P1/P2 resolution calls.
• Support vendor communication for minor projects and develop pilot activities, including defining hypotheses, proof of concept, and formalizing pilot teams. Identify pilot locations, obtain approvals, evaluate vendors, and determine timelines.
• Deploy acceptable pilots to evaluate business fit and operational feasibility, feeding results into solution design for new business proposals.
• Evaluate, pilot, and deploy new warehouse automation technologies, supporting validation through Proof of Concept (POC) implementations.
• Coordinate value-justification of projects with Senior Management and cross-functional teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field of study.
• Preferred: Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field of study.
• Preferred: 3+ years of experience in warehouse automation, material handling technologies, industrial engineering, or warehouse systems integration.
• Preferred: 2+ years of demonstrated experience in warehouse automation.
• Required: 2+ years of experience in warehouse automation, including exposure to technologies such as sortation conveyor, goods-to-person, autonomous vehicles/robots, or ASRS’s.
• Required (Beginner level): Automation, Management Consulting, Physical & Process Robotic experience.
• Required (Beginner level): Knowledge of Warehouse Management operations, data analytics, Industrial Engineering, warehouse types (ambient, temperature-controlled), and Lean methods.
• Required (Intermediate level): Knowledge of material handling equipment and automation types, including forklift applications, racking designs, packaging devices, and automation design.
• Required (Beginner level): Familiarity with Warehouse Design Tools such as CAD, slotting, MOST, simulation, WMS, and Labor Management. Network Design Tools (e.g., Llamasoft) and Data Visualization Software (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) are a plus.
• Required (Beginner level): Industrial or Mechanical Engineering background or equivalent warehouse operational knowledge.
• Preferred (Intermediate level): Experience in financial business case analysis to support targeted return on investment.

Skills

• Strong planning, time management, collaboration, decision-making, organization, and presentation skills.
• High degree of comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Ability to create and maintain professional relationships at all levels of the organization (peers, work groups, customers, supervisors).
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Passion for understanding clients' and internal customers' vision and business goals.
• Ability to champion ambiguous scenarios and challenges.
• Natural sense of leadership and ownership in research, pilot, and thought leadership activities.
• Problem-solving mindset with a curious, hands-on mentality.
• Act as a change agent in adopting warehouse automation technologies to deliver operational improvements and coach business owners in deploying these technologies.
• Demonstrated success in assessing, developing, and deploying new offerings or incremental enhancements.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000 annually. The compensation offered may be influenced by factors such as relevant experience, education, certifications, work location, market data, and internal equity. The position may also be eligible for an annual bonus, commission, and/or long-term incentive plan based on the level and type of role.

Benefits

Ryder offers comprehensive health and welfare benefits for full-time positions, including:

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance and disability insurance options.
• Paid time off for vacation, illness, bereavement, family, and parental leave.
• A tax-advantaged 401(k) retirement savings plan.

Schedule

Travel is required for this role, estimated at 30-40%.