Integration Manager

Kardex•Cincinnati, OH

About The Position

The Integration Manager is responsible for ensuring Kardex Solutions projects transition successfully from implementation into stable customer operations with the lowest possible level of post-go-live support issues. This role serves as the operational bridge between Project Management, Solution Engineering, Software, Controls, Commissioning, Customer Support, and the customer’s operational and IT teams. The Integration Manager becomes actively involved before system go-live and remains engaged through the early operational life of the solution, with particular focus on the first six months after deployment. The primary objective of the role is to ensure that systems are not simply technically complete, but are operationally ready, properly integrated, fully documented, effectively handed over, and capable of being supported efficiently after launch. The Integration Manager will help identify implementation risks before go-live, coordinate system-level validation, ensure support teams understand the deployed solution, and drive rapid resolution of recurring issues during the stabilization period. Success in this position will directly improve: Customer satisfaction, System stability, First-six-month support performance, Project-to-service handoff, Issue resolution speed, System availability, Customer adoption, Internal accountability, Long-term serviceability.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in warehouse automation, systems integration, industrial automation, software integration, project delivery, commissioning, or technical support.
Experience supporting complex automated systems after deployment.
Strong understanding of integrated material handling systems.
Experience troubleshooting issues that cross multiple technical disciplines.
Ability to understand system architecture and data flow.
Strong customer-facing communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate technical teams during critical project periods.
Strong organizational and issue-management skills.
Understanding of system architecture, warehouse material flow, controls architecture, PLC systems, industrial communications, software interfaces, host-system integration, WMS/WCS/WES architecture, transaction flows, network dependencies, exception handling, troubleshooting methodology, system availability, root-cause analysis, commissioning processes, and acceptance testing.
Highly accountable, detail-oriented, process-driven, technically credible, calm under pressure, comfortable working directly with customers, able to coordinate multiple technical disciplines, strong at identifying risks before they become issues, persistent in driving problems to permanent resolution, effective at communicating complex problems clearly, comfortable challenging teams when required, focused on continuous improvement rather than assigning blame.

Nice To Haves

Experience with AutoStore, Conveyor systems, Sortation, AS/RS, Goods-to-person systems, AMRs / AGVs, PLC controls, Industrial networks, WMS, WCS, WES, ERP integration, Warehouse software, SQL or system log analysis, API or message-based integrations, Material handling systems integration.
Experience with large, multi-technology automation projects is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead a structured deployment-readiness process before customer go-live, confirming that the complete integrated solution is prepared for operational use, including mechanical systems, controls, AutoStore, conveyor, peripheral equipment, software, WMS/WCS/WES interfaces, host integrations, network infrastructure, user access, operational workflows, and support documentation.
Ensure outstanding technical, operational, and integration risks are clearly identified before launch and establish/maintain a formal Go-Live Readiness Checklist for each assigned project.
Identify unresolved issues that could create operational disruption after go-live and drive ownership and closure before the system enters production.
Coordinate system-level integration across all technology components within Kardex Solutions scope, ensuring interfaces between systems are properly defined, tested, documented, and understood by support teams.
Coordinate and support structured testing prior to production launch, including interface testing, end-to-end transaction testing, order lifecycle testing, inventory transactions, replenishment workflows, picking workflows, packing workflows, exception handling, equipment fault recovery, communication interruptions, host-system interruptions, recovery procedures, peak throughput testing, stress testing, and user acceptance testing.
Ensure testing represents realistic customer operating conditions and maintain clear documentation of test results, open issues, responsibilities, and corrective actions.
Work with the customer and internal teams to ensure the operation is prepared to successfully use the system, validating that standard operating procedures are established, operators are trained, supervisors are trained, maintenance teams are trained, customer IT teams understand integration dependencies, exception processes are defined, escalation procedures are documented, spare parts requirements are established, system monitoring is operational, and support contacts are clearly defined.
Own the transition of the deployed system from the project organization to the Kardex Solutions support organization, ensuring the support team receives complete and accurate system information before taking operational responsibility.
Coordinate Kardex Solutions resources during system launch and the initial production period, establishing clear responsibilities across Project Management, Engineering, Software, Controls, Commissioning, Customer Support, Third-party suppliers, Customer operations, and Customer IT.
Maintain oversight of project performance during the first six months following go-live, monitoring support ticket volume, repeat issues, system availability, equipment faults, software incidents, interface failures, operational exceptions, customer escalation volume, response time, and resolution time.
Drive root-cause investigations for recurring or high-impact issues and ensure permanent corrective actions are implemented.
Lead or coordinate structured root-cause analysis for significant or recurring deployment issues using methods like 5 Why analysis, fault-tree analysis, failure mode analysis, issue trending, Pareto analysis, log analysis, and system performance reviews.
Ensure lessons learned are documented and incorporated into future projects, working with Engineering, Product Management, Project Management, and Service to convert recurring lessons into standardized improvements.
Serve as a trusted technical and operational resource during the transition from project implementation to stable operations, communicating clearly with customer stakeholders regarding system status, open issues, root causes, corrective actions, operational risks, resolution timelines, and support responsibilities.
Work closely with Project Management, Solution Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Software Engineering, Commissioning, Customer Support, Field Service, Product Management, Sales, Customer IT, Customer Operations, and Third-party suppliers, providing a single system-level perspective across teams.