Warehouse Engineering Manager

Job Summary

The Warehouse Engineering Manager plays a crucial role in enhancing warehouse operations by integrating physical infrastructure with system configurations to maximize safety, efficiency, space utilization, and overall cost-effectiveness.

In this leadership position, you will oversee the technical aspects of warehouse design and management, including layout planning, slotting strategies, labor standards enforcement, storage solutions, and process optimization. You will also mentor junior team members, fostering their growth in operational excellence.

Primary Duties

• Lead comprehensive warehouse engineering initiatives across multiple distribution centers, focusing on optimizing layout, slotting, material handling flow, storage configurations, and maximizing capacity to support operational goals.
• Analyze and improve pick paths, putaway and work zones, racking arrangements, and storage density to elevate productivity, reduce travel time, streamline replenishment, and enhance space efficiency.
• Govern labor standards through maintenance, validation, performance tracking, and continual refinement to support efficient workforce management and productivity improvement.
• Create, update, and maintain precise warehouse layouts using AutoCAD or equivalent software, ensuring designs accommodate both current operational needs and projected future growth.
• Continuously monitor shifts in product assortment, volume, and velocity to proactively adjust warehouse configurations and operational parameters to meet changing demands effectively.
• Manage the setup of new inventory items, establish consistent warehouse process routings, and maintain operational master data alignment between physical processes and system workflows.
• Conduct in-depth analyses on capacity utilization, labor efficiency, throughput, productivity, and space use to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for operational enhancements.
• Champion structured problem-solving methods including 8D, 5 Why, PDCA, and root-cause analysis to drive corrective actions and continuous process improvements.
• Develop well-founded technical recommendations, detailed scopes, and compelling business cases to justify warehouse improvement projects and capital investments.
• Lead or contribute to projects focused on warehouse layout redesign, implementation of storage systems and automation, improvement of material flows, and reconfiguration of routing, slotting, and workflows.
• Collaborate closely with Operations and cross-functional departments to implement improvements, ensuring changes are validated and yield sustained benefits.
• Establish and maintain comprehensive warehouse engineering standards, accurate drawings, effective tools, and thorough documentation to support consistent practices across all assigned facilities.
• Provide mentorship, technical guidance, and professional development support to junior Operational Excellence (OPEX) team members, promoting team capability and knowledge sharing.
• Perform additional duties as assigned that support the operational excellence and strategic objectives of the warehouse engineering function.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of warehouse operations with a strong foundation in industrial engineering principles, material flow dynamics, and distribution facility design.
• Proven track record in slotting optimization, warehouse layout refinement, storage system implementation, and capacity planning to enhance operational efficiency.
• Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD or similar warehouse/facility design software to create precise and actionable layouts.
• Exceptional analytical capability to interpret operational metrics and translate data into actionable insights for warehouse performance enhancements.
• Competency in developing and managing models related to capacity, labor productivity, throughput, and space utilization to support decision-making.
• Hands-on experience with structured problem-solving techniques and corrective action processes to resolve complex operational challenges effectively.
• Strong skills in developing thorough technical proposals, business cases, and leading project execution from concept through to implementation and ongoing sustainment.
• Excellent project management ability, including organization, communication, and stakeholder engagement to drive initiatives successfully.
• Capacity to influence and collaborate with Operations and cross-functional teams, fostering partnerships to achieve warehouse engineering objectives across multiple sites.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills along with proficiency in other Microsoft Office tools for data analysis, reporting, and presentation.
• Preferred experience with labor management systems, engineered labor standards, warehouse management systems, operational master data governance, and warehouse automation technologies.
• Preferred familiarity with racking system design, warehouse capacity modeling, and management of new product or part setup processes.
• Physical Requirements: Capability to work in active warehouse environments that require extended periods of walking and standing, with the ability to lift items weighing up to 50 pounds safely.
• Work Environment: The role includes time spent in both office and warehouse settings, with exposure to varying temperatures, elevated noise levels, and the use of material handling equipment. Travel to various facilities is expected at a rate of 10–20%.

Education / Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred. Candidates with equivalent relevant professional experience will also be considered.
• A minimum of five years of progressive experience in warehouse engineering, industrial engineering, distribution facility design, slotting strategies, supply chain engineering, or a similar operational role is required.