Sr Controls & Automation Engineer

Stord is The Consumer Experience Company, powering seamless checkout through delivery for today's leading brands. Stord is rapidly growing and is on track to double our revenue in the next 18 months. To meet and exceed this target, Stord is strategically scaling teams across the entire company, and seeking energetic experts to help us achieve our mission.By combining comprehensive commerce-enablement technology with high-volume fulfillment services, Stord provides brands a platform to compete with retail giants. Stord manages over $10 billion of commerce annually through its fulfillment, warehousing, transportation, and operator-built software suite including OMS, Pre- and Post-Purchase, and WMS platforms. Stord is leveling the playing field for all brands to deliver the best consumer experience at scale.With Stord, brands can increase cart conversion, improve unit economics, and drive sustained customer loyalty. Stord’s end-to-end commerce solutions combine best-in-class omnichannel fulfillment and shipping with leading technology to ensure fast shipping, reliable delivery promises, easy access to more channels, and improved margins on every order.Hundreds of leading DTC and B2B companies like AG1, True Classic, Native, Seed Health, quip, goodr, Sundays for Dogs, and more trust Stord to deliver industry-leading consumer experiences on every order. Stord is headquartered in Atlanta with facilities across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Stord is backed by top-tier investors including Kleiner Perkins, Franklin Templeton, Founders Fund, Strike Capital, Baillie Gifford, and Salesforce Ventures.Stord is launching Stord Labs, a dedicated 10,000-square-foot micro-fulfillment environment designed to evaluate and define the future of logistics automation. We are seeking a highly technical, hands-on Controls & Automation Engineer to serve as a lead systems architect within our core innovation team.In this role, you will own the technical design, integration, and orchestration of advanced automation systems operating in a live experimental fulfillment environment. You will evaluate, install, and prototype emerging robotics and controls technologies under real operating conditions—processing both live and synthetic orders—to determine what truly improves throughput, reliability, and operating economics.Your work will directly shape which automation technologies scale across Stord’s broader fulfillment network, transforming early-stage robotics concepts into production-ready systems deployed across high-volume distribution facilities.What You'll Do:Technical Architecture & Innovation StrategyServe as the lead technical authority within the innovation labDefine control systems architecture and integration roadmaps connecting frontier robotics with Stord’s internal software ecosystemVendor Evaluation & Strategic SelectionPartner with lab leadership to evaluate and validate emerging automation and robotics providersNarrow vendor ecosystem to a small set of strategic, long-term partners based on performance, scalability, and integration viabilitySystems Integration & OrchestrationLead integration of diverse automation systems, including mobile robotics, picking systems, and sortation technologiesEnsure seamless data and control flow across PLC, WCS, and WMS layersLab-to-Production Scale StrategyDevelop deployment frameworks, technical standards, and operational documentationEnable transition of validated lab concepts into scalable, high-throughput distribution environmentsRobotics & Automation EvaluationEvaluate, install, and test technologies such as AMRs, robotic picking systems, goods-to-person solutions, and sortation automationAssess systems based on reliability, integration complexity, operational impact, and ROIRapid Prototyping & Experimental DesignLead rapid experimentation and simulation of control system capabilitiesBuild high-iteration test environments where underperforming systems are iterated or decommissioned based on measurable outcomesControls Systems Engineering & IntegrationAct as SME for PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servo systems, and industrial controlsDevelop and maintain standard code libraries, electrical schematics, troubleshooting guides, and as-built documentationPerformance Validation & Root Cause AnalysisEvaluate automation systems for operational readiness, reliability, and human-system interactionConduct structured root cause analysis to resolve integration challengesIdentify cases where robotics solutions are not yet viable or cost-effectiveBasic Qualifications: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Automation, or related field8+ years of hands-on experience in high-volume manufacturing or warehouse automation environmentsExpert-level PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens), HMI development, and industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, Profinet)Proven ownership of multi-million-dollar automation projects from architecture through commissioningStrong ability to document technical findings, experiments, and system learningsAbility to travel domestically 25% annually.Bonus Points:Experience with high-density warehouse automation and robotics platforms (AMRs, robotic picking, G2P systems)Prior experience in R&D or innovation lab environments running automation experimentsFamiliarity with WMS, WES, and WCS architectures and their interaction with automation systemsExperience partnering with robotics OEMs or automation vendors in live pilot or production environmentsSummaryLocation: HQ - Atlanta, GAType: Full time