Dir Automation and Engineering CoE

DHL (Supply Chain)•Westerville, OH

8d•$104,000 - $198,000

About The Position

The Director of Automation and Engineering CoE manages execution of automated equipment projects with high automation complexity at new and existing sites. The role works across multiple sites within a business unit and requires significant travel to project sites. Project management responsibilities include developing equipment project plans, detailed equipment and software functional designs, testing and acceptance plans, communicating project status to leadership, and coordinating with other DHL functional groups. Typical projects involve conveyors, case sorters, shuttle systems, unit sorting, print-and-apply systems, and warehouse control systems. The role provides engineering leadership and guidance to operations and solution design teams, oversees deployment of highly automated material-handling systems, and manages vendors to ensure contracted schedule, functionality, throughput, and quality. It also leads testing across project phases and supports distribution center operations in learning and optimizing installed equipment. The Director leads and develops on-site process and equipment support engineers and automation engineering talent, while identifying equipment technologies and practices and developing solutions that meet customer requirements, improve productivity, reduce cycle time, and decrease costs. The position is based in Kansas City, Missouri. DHL Supply Chain describes its environment as business casual and focused on teamwork, associate development, training, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

At least 9 years of relevant equipment implementation experience.
At least 5 years of project management experience.
At least 2 years managing engineering direct reports.
Prior experience implementing automated unit- or case-handling equipment.
Data analysis using Excel, Access, SQL, and Power BI.
MOST / MTM labor modeling.
CAD for equipment layout.
Excellent verbal and written communication.
Project management.
Warehouse control systems (WCS).
Warehouse management systems (WMS).
Leadership and mentoring of a team.
Strong organizational skills.
Experience with new distribution center start-ups.

Nice To Haves

At least 1 year of financial reporting, including capital projects.
Automated equipment business case development.
PLC equipment control.
Barcoding.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and expert guidance to operations and solution design teams on automated equipment types, target rates, productivity, costs, and layouts.
Provide equipment and process engineering expertise and leadership at new distribution centers implementing automated material-handling equipment.
Lead work streams for deployment of highly automated material-handling systems.
Manage automated equipment vendors to ensure equipment and software meet contracted schedule, functionality, rate, and quality requirements.
Lead automated equipment testing across multiple project phases.
Perform or oversee data analysis, business case creation, equipment cost estimating and layout, equipment evaluation, productivity modeling and estimates, vendor and project management, equipment punch-listing, WCS software integration and testing, flow-control design, equipment functionality and rate testing, operations start-up training, and query and report development.
Lead a small team of on-site process and equipment support engineers at each project site.
Provide leadership and training to support engineers to build their expertise in running and supporting project-site equipment.
Support distribution center operations teams in learning and optimizing automated equipment.
Stay current on distribution equipment technologies and best practices across sectors.
Develop process and equipment solution options to meet customer requirements, improve productivity, reduce cycle time, and decrease cost.
Partner effectively with multiple functional groups in a matrix environment to deliver customer results.
Select and manage external vendors and contractors for engineering- and maintenance-related projects.
Maintain stakeholder alignment through project management and communication.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Train site engineering teams to become experts on installed equipment.
Develop engineering talent on the automation engineering team.