Warehouse Automation Engineer

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. This role drives efficiencies to grow existing business and win new opportunities by leveraging a breadth of knowledge across various business types and automation technologies.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with internal operations, solution design, continuous improvement, IT, product teams, and stakeholders to identify, select, and deploy new warehouse automation technologies.
• Consult with internal and external contacts to demonstrate the value and feasibility of warehouse automation capabilities.
• Collaborate with customers and business owners to identify new ideas and implement automation solutions across verticals, regions, and functional areas.
• RFP and New Business Support: Lead minor RFP projects and support lead engineers on major RFPs by identifying and validating automation technologies. Build ROI and justification models to select optimal solution designs.
• SOW (Scope of Work) Contractual Validation: Support automation project leads in identifying gaps in vendor Functional Specification Documents (FSD) and SOWs using the FSD Checklist process.
• Design Validation: 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.
• Automation Procurement: Help build collateral for vendor tech review requests and requests for quotes. Evaluate design options from various vendors and solutions.
• Implementation Project Management: Manage smaller projects, including updating punch lists and project plans. Track milestones and requirements for project implementation.
• Implementation Support: Attend implementation status calls as needed. Verify and prioritize optimal on-site support for all projects. 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 for uptime.
• Data Analytics: Profile data from dashboards and systems to support system optimization projects. Perform data analysis on technology controls systems and WMS/WES.
• Implementation Commissioning and Solution Validation: Support Solutions Acceptance Testing (SAT) and track punch list items.
• Strategy and Success Measurements: Review team strategy with manager to set personal goals.
• Financial Responsibilities: Validate spend with manager and support project leads in tracking project budgets.
• Automation Troubleshooting: Partner with vendors to resolve Priority 1-5 tickets related to degraded performance or downtime. Join P1/P2 resolution calls.
• Support vendor communication for minor projects.
• Develop pilot activities, define hypotheses, formalize teams, identify pilot locations, obtain approvals, evaluate vendors, and determine timelines. Deploy acceptable pilots to evaluate business fit and operational feasibility.
• Evaluate, pilot, and deploy new warehouse automation technologies. Validate new technology through Proof of Concept (POC) implementations and coordinate value-justification with senior management and cross-functional teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

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

Skills

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

Pay

Salaried position with a minimum pay range of $100,000 and a maximum pay range of $120,000. The position may also be eligible for an annual bonus, commission, and/or long-term incentive plan based on level and type.

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.
• Tax-advantaged 401(k) retirement savings plan.

Schedule

Travel required: 30-40%.