Sr Controls & Automation Engineer

Stord•Atlanta, GA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Stord is 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.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Automation, or related field
8+ years of hands-on experience in high-volume manufacturing or warehouse automation environments
Expert-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 commissioning
Strong ability to document technical findings, experiments, and system learnings
Ability to travel domestically 25% annually.

Nice To Haves

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 experiments
Familiarity with WMS, WES, and WCS architectures and their interaction with automation systems
Experience partnering with robotics OEMs or automation vendors in live pilot or production environments

Responsibilities

Serve as the lead technical authority within the innovation lab
Define control systems architecture and integration roadmaps connecting frontier robotics with Stord’s internal software ecosystem
Partner with lab leadership to evaluate and validate emerging automation and robotics providers
Narrow vendor ecosystem to a small set of strategic, long-term partners based on performance, scalability, and integration viability
Lead integration of diverse automation systems, including mobile robotics, picking systems, and sortation technologies
Ensure seamless data and control flow across PLC, WCS, and WMS layers
Develop deployment frameworks, technical standards, and operational documentation
Enable transition of validated lab concepts into scalable, high-throughput distribution environments
Evaluate, install, and test technologies such as AMRs, robotic picking systems, goods-to-person solutions, and sortation automation
Assess systems based on reliability, integration complexity, operational impact, and ROI
Lead rapid experimentation and simulation of control system capabilities
Build high-iteration test environments where underperforming systems are iterated or decommissioned based on measurable outcomes
Act as SME for PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servo systems, and industrial controls
Develop and maintain standard code libraries, electrical schematics, troubleshooting guides, and as-built documentation
Evaluate automation systems for operational readiness, reliability, and human-system interaction
Conduct structured root cause analysis to resolve integration challenges
Identify cases where robotics solutions are not yet viable or cost-effective

Benefits

Comprehensive commerce-enablement technology
High-volume fulfillment services
Platform to compete with retail giants
Fulfillment, warehousing, transportation, and operator-built software suite including OMS, Pre- and Post-Purchase, and WMS platforms
End-to-end commerce solutions combine best-in-class omnichannel fulfillment and shipping with leading technology
Fast shipping, reliable delivery promises, easy access to more channels, and improved margins on every order
Backed by top-tier investors including Kleiner Perkins, Franklin Templeton, Founders Fund, Strike Capital, Baillie Gifford, and Salesforce Ventures
Stord Labs, a dedicated 10,000-square-foot micro-fulfillment environment designed to evaluate and define the future of logistics automation
Equal opportunity employer
Value diversity at our company
Do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status
Participates in E-verify