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 and win new business by differentiating Ryder through dedicated teams and capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead minor RFP projects and support lead engineers 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.
• Support the creation of presentations with the Lead Automation Solutions Engineer.
• Assist in 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.
• Lead the development of collateral for vendor technology reviews and requests for quotes; evaluate vendor solutions.
• Manage smaller implementation projects, including updating punch lists and project plans, and tracking milestones.
• Attend implementation status calls, verify and prioritize on-site support, and handle escalation events.
• Coordinate support for on-site teams during post-go-live hypercare and support Solution Acceptance Test (SAT) testing plans.
• Track punch list items post-go-live to ensure uptime.
• Perform data analysis from dashboards, technology control systems, and WMS/WES to support system optimization.
• Support Solutions Acceptance Testing (SAT) and strategy reviews with management to set personal goals.
• Validate project spend with managers and support project leads in tracking project budgets.
• Partner with vendors to resolve Priority 1-5 tickets related to degraded or downed automation performance; 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; feed results into solution design for new business proposals.
• Evaluate, pilot, and deploy new warehouse automation technologies through Proof of Concept (POC) implementations.
• Coordinate value-justification of projects with Senior Management and cross-functional teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (Required).
• Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (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 (Preferred).
• Experience with warehouse automation technologies, including sortation conveyor, goods-to-person, autonomous vehicles/robots, ASRS’s (Required).
• Beginner-level experience in automation, management consulting, physical and process robotics (Required).
• Beginner-level knowledge of Warehouse Management operations, data analytics, Industrial Engineering, warehouse types (ambient, temp control), and Lean methods (Required).
• Intermediate-level knowledge of material handling equipment and automation types, such as forklift applications, racking designs, packaging devices, and automation design (Required).
• Beginner-level proficiency in 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 (Required).
• Beginner-level experience in Industrial or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent warehouse operational knowledge (Required).
• Intermediate-level experience in financial business case analysis to support targeted return on investment (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 organizational levels (Required).
• Ability to work independently and as part 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-solving mindset 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 pay range of $100,000 – $120,000. The position may also be eligible for an annual bonus, commission, and/or long-term incentive plan based on role level and type.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and welfare benefits, 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%.