Senior Engineering Project Manager - Warehouse Automation

Role Description

The Sr Engineering Project Manager - Warehouse Automation leads the end-to-end lifecycle of automated distribution and fulfillment initiatives—from initial data analysis, facility profiling, and solution design to physical implementation, commissioning, and operational integration. This role bridges technical engineering rigor with structured project management. You will analyze complex supply chain datasets to design high-density, high-throughput automated material handling solutions while managing timelines, budgets, vendor execution, and cross-functional deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Data Analysis & Solution Engineering
  • Data Profiling & Modeling: Analyze order history, SKU dimensions, velocity profiles, seasonal peaks, inventory turns, and order-structure patterns to establish baseline engineering parameters.
  • Concept & Solution Design: Translate data insights into scalable layout options, flow diagrams, and functional process designs (including receiving, putaway, picking, packing, and shipping).
  • Throughput & Capacity Planning: Perform mathematical and physical modeling to evaluate equipment utilization, bottleneck analysis, labor requirements, and ROI for competing technology architectures.
  • Technology Evaluation: Benchmark and select optimal material handling equipment (MHE) and automation technologies.
• Project Management & Capital Execution
  • End-to-End Ownership: Scope, plan, and execute multi-million-dollar warehouse automation projects from initial charter to final operational acceptance.
  • Schedule & Budget Control: Develop work breakdown structures (WBS), Gantt schedules, and cost baselines. Track spending against CapEx budgets and manage scope variations proactively.
  • Risk Management & Quality Control: Identify technical, vendor, and operational risks early; build mitigation plans; and conduct onsite quality inspections during installation and testing phases.
  • Commissioning & Testing: Oversee system integration testing (SIT), user acceptance testing (UAT), ramp-up strategies, and performance testing against contractually defined throughput benchmarks.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Vendor Management
  • RFP & Contract Management: Draft technical specifications, functional requirements documents (FRD), and Statement of Work (SOW) packages for RFPs; evaluate vendor bids on technical merit and cost.
  • Integrator Alignment: Serve as the primary engineering point of contact for external system integrators, OEM hardware vendors, and software partners.
  • Operations Partnership: Collaborate with site operations, safety, maintenance, and IT teams to ensure operational readiness, ergonomics, safety compliance, and change management training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Mechanical, Systems Engineering or related engineering discipline preferred.
• Preferred Certifications: PMP, LSS Green/Black Belt.
• 8+ years of experience in warehouse design, material handling engineering, or automated supply chain project delivery preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of AS/RS, AGVs/AMRs, Goods-to-Person (GTP) systems, conveyor/sortation networks, print-and-apply, and WMS/WES/WCS system interactions preferred.
• Experience using CAD tools (AutoCAD, MicroStation).
• Strong working knowledge of SQL, Python, or R for data analysis and decision support.
• Exposure to simulation/modeling software tools.
• Experience with project scheduling software (MS Project, Smartsheet).
• Skilled at balancing operational demands, budget constraints, and engineering feasibility while managing executive and site-level expectations.
• Travel Expectations: Up to 50%.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage.
• Paid time off plan.
• Health savings account (HSA).
• 401k savings plan.
• Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay.
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs).
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Work-Life resources.
• Paid parental leave.
• Healthy lifestyle programs.