Job Description:
The Project Engineer (PE) will lead design work of distribution center operations and material handling systems with Fortna’s Clients in conjunction with Fortna’s Operations Design team. This Engineering role is accountable to the quality and feasibility of design, ensuring operational and business requirements are met. The PE is considered a senior technical role within the organization, and in conjunction with Solution Architect, is expected to provide coaching and mentoring to other members of the Engineering group. The PE is expected to work under the guidance of a Solution Architect during Operation Design concept development and serve as the Engineering lead during Integrated Detail Design (IDD) and Implementation phases of projects. Associates in this role are required to support multiple projects, each of varying complexity and effort.
The PE is expected to understand distribution center operations, material handling technology, and warehouse software system technology. Team leadership competencies, collaboration abilities, and cross-functional awareness are required attributes of the PE. The PE is also expected to support development efforts for the Engineering department such as process improvements, tool development, supporting departmental goals, infrastructure, and standard improvement. Overall, the PE is considered a primary stakeholder in ensuring the successful completion of projects for Fortna and Fortna’s Clients, as well as ensuring continuous improvement within the Engineering department.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
- Understanding the roles and responsibilities of all team members associated with Operations Design and Implementation efforts, and ability to utilize each team member effectively, commensurate to role expectations and individual abilities.
- Supporting the Fortna design team on distribution operations design efforts including
- Concept design to support hypothesis;
- Refining the design to validate, or invalidate the hypothesis;
- Development of a solution that meets all business and operational requirements;
- Capital budget estimation of solution;
- Understanding and supporting concept design project budgets and schedules.
- Supporting development of a wide array of conceptual designs to meet various Client requirements, business and operational requirements. Concepts may range from manual to fully automated solutions.
- Facilitating design review meetings internally and externally.
- Accurately, clearly, and concisely displaying design requirements, assumptions, designs, and budgets utilizing Fortna standard documentation.
- Continuously evaluating project progress against plan.
- Documenting and managing project changes with Client and Fortna Design Teams.
- Supporting tools development, continuous improvement and use, such as Fortna DCconceptor™, DCdesigner®
- Leading Engineering project team resources (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Controls Engineering) during Integrated Detail Design and Implementation project phases.
- Managing IDD and Implementation Engineering scope, schedule, budget
- Providing "estimates to complete" to project management for Engineering scope and effort
- Continually self-educating and evaluating current and future technology and operating methodologies for possible inclusions in current and future concept designs.
- Leading final engineering efforts and engineering weekly meeting, publishing weekly engineering status reports (consolidated from electrical engineering, design engineering, technical services), tracking engineering schedule and budgets, and resource planning (report to engineering directors).
PROJECT BASED ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES:
- Leading, developing and supporting material handling designs in AutoCad and Fortna DCconceptor™, DCdesigner®.
- Supporting requirement documentation including: business and operational requirements, engineering requirements, and others.
- Leading the development of Request for Proposal and requirement documentation for MHE Supplier scope (including high technology elements of a design, such as automated storage and retrieval systems).
- Supporting the development of description of operations.
- Leading supplier selection processes including high technology or high complexity supplier scopes.
- Supporting Electrical Controls Engineering development of technical aspects of description of operations, such as the machine control specification documentation.
- Maintaining and frequently updating on project actions, decisions, risks, and assumptions for all projects assigned, including project change records and estimate to complete updates to project management.
- Ensuring internal design reviews are conducted with the proper cross functional participation including: internal formal reviews and informal peer reviews.
- Overseeing and ensuring the quality and accuracy of common inputs to the Estimation department including: FortnaDCconceptor™ drawing and budget outputs, budgetary quotes from suppliers for subsystems.
- Leading project team resources developing Mechanical and Electrical Controls Engineering deliverables during IDD and Implementation project phases:
- Equipment RFP development and evaluation
- Equipment supplier selection processes
- Supplier approval drawing process
- Internal and Client design review meetings (equipment speed, rate, control)
- Mechanical installation drawings
- Electrical fabrication and installation drawings
- Leading final drawing approval with the Client.
- Coordinating all prototype efforts (plans, signoff, budgets, etc.).
- Managing project close-out and final documents including project review and lessons learned.
- Ensuring drawing quality control and quality assurance needed to provide a good implementation and supporting DQC Process (mechanical & electric).
CONTINUING EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITIES
- Attending tradeshows as required and approved by Engineering Leadership.
- Attending supplier training and technology awareness hosted events as required and approved by Engineering Leadership.
- Evaluating new technologies and companies in the Material Handling and related industries.
- Evaluating potential new Suppliers and assist / lead technical qualification of Supplier.
- Staying abreast of material handling offerings, application of technology, and operational processes as seen fit by Engineering Leadership.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
- Supporting Sales and Operations Design Leads in presenting the SOW to perspective Clients, as required.
- Supporting pricing efforts through the design process.
- Leading or attending Client meetings as required
- Supporting recruiting and interviewing of potential Fortna candidates.
