The Solutions Design Engineer is responsible for developing, analyzing, and optimizing logistics and supply chain solutions for new and existing 3PL operations. This role partners with Business Development, Operations, Engineering, Finance, and customers to design solutions that are operationally feasible, financially sound, scalable, and aligned with customer requirements.
The Solutions Design Engineer will translate customer requirements and operational data into detailed logistics solutions, including warehouse layouts, material flow, labor models, equipment requirements, process designs, capacity plans, and cost models. This position plays a key role in supporting new business opportunities, customer expansions, operational improvements, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Solutions Design & Engineering
- Develop end-to-end logistics solutions for new and existing 3PL customers.
- Analyze customer requirements, historical volumes, forecasts, SKU profiles, order patterns, and operational constraints.
- Design warehouse layouts, storage strategies, material flow, workstations, processes, and operating models.
- Develop process flows, standard operating procedures, and operational concepts.
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, quality, safety, space utilization, and overall operating efficiency.
Labor & Cost Modeling
- Develop detailed labor models based on customer volumes, processes, productivity assumptions, staffing requirements, and operating schedules.
- Build and maintain financial models to support pricing and business proposals.
- Calculate cost per unit, cost per order, cost per labor hour, utilization, and other relevant operating metrics.
- Conduct sensitivity analysis to evaluate changes in volume, labor rates, productivity, operating hours, and other key assumptions.
- Partner with Finance and Operations to validate cost assumptions and ensure solution profitability.
Customer Solutions & Business Development Support
- Support the Business Development team during RFP/RFQ/RFI processes.
- Review customer requirements and identify operational, technical, and commercial considerations.
- Develop solution concepts, pricing inputs, presentations, and supporting documentation for customer proposals.
- Participate in customer meetings, site visits, solution reviews, and presentations.
- Translate complex operational concepts into clear and understandable customer-facing solutions.
Operational Implementation
- Partner with Operations and Project Management to transition approved solutions into implementation.
- Ensure the proposed solution can be effectively executed within the operating environment.
- Participate in startup activities and provide engineering support during implementation as needed.
- Conduct post-implementation reviews to compare actual performance against the original solution design.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.
- 3+ years of experience in logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, supply chain, industrial engineering, or 3PL operations.
- Experience developing labor, capacity, space, and cost models.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong understanding of warehouse and distribution center operations.
- Strong written, verbal, presentation, and customer-facing communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a deadline-driven environment.