Solutions Architect – Freight Technology

project44; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Job summary

project44 is seeking a Solutions Engineer to join our team in Chicago, IL. This role is vital in bridging technical and business aspects for logistics service providers, focusing on solution design and integration.

The ideal candidate will have extensive operational experience in logistics, strong communication skills, and the ability to create compelling ROI models. This position requires on-site presence four days a week.

Join our inclusive team that values diversity and innovation in the logistics industry!

Qualifications

• 5+ years of operational or technical experience in logistics.
• Fluency in logistics terminology and processes.
• Proven track record managing complex integration projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical discovery and solution design for LSP accounts.
• Own integration scoping and technical validation.
• Engage with executives to present technical visions and ROI models.

Skills

Operational knowledge

Technical experience

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Problem-solving

Tools

TMS platforms

APIs

Postman

Job description

Location: Chicago, IL (Relocation assistance available for candidates open to moving to Chicago.)

As a Solutions Engineer you’ll serve as the primary technical and business advisor for project44’s go-to-market motion into the 3PL, 4PL, and broader LSP segment. You bring credibility in the room that comes from having lived the technical and operational realities of a logistics provider.

This role is both strategic and hands‑on. You will be embedded with dedicated LSP Account Executives — owning the technical discovery, solution design, integration scoping, and value quantification for complex LSP sales engagements. You’ll translate operational pain into compelling platform demonstrations and build LSP‑specific ROI models.

You are a storyteller, technologist, and logistics operator who can articulate how project44 transforms the way LSPs serve their shipper customers — and back it up with architectural depth, operational fluency, and hands‑on integration know‑how.

LSP Buyer Landscape

You’ll be working with logistics service providers across the full spectrum of the industry — each with distinct operational models, technology stacks, and strategic priorities:

• Non-Asset 3PLs & Freight Brokers: Managing carrier networks at scale, with pressure to provide shipper-facing visibility without owning the assets.
• 4PLs & Lead Logistics Providers: Orchestrating multi‑modal, multi‑carrier, multi‑region supply chains on behalf of enterprise shippers — where data normalization and control tower capabilities are critical.
• NVOCCs & Freight Forwarders: Navigating complex ocean, air, and customs workflows where milestone visibility and exception management define service quality.
• LTL Consolidators & Regional Carriers: Competing on reliability and transparency, with growing pressure to offer real‑time tracking and API‑accessible data to shipper portals.
• Managed Transportation Providers: Taking ownership of shipper TMS environments and carrier relationships, where project44 becomes the visibility and intelligence layer on top of their managed programs.

Key Accountabilities

LSP Discovery & Solution Design

• Lead technical and business discovery using LSP‑native vocabulary — carrier network management, managed transportation, freight audit & pay, control tower operations, customer SLA performance, white‑label visibility portals, and TMS/WMS interoperability.
• Translate complex, multi‑stakeholder LSP challenges into scalable, high‑impact project44 solutions — mapping customer pain to platform capabilities across the Movement product suite.
• Serve as the internal and external authority on how project44 creates differentiated value for LSPs — from carrier connectivity and execution automation to customer‑facing portals and Decision Intelligence reporting.
• Bridge operational and technical stakeholders within LSP accounts — equally effective presenting to a VP of Operations and their integration architect, switching registers fluidly as needed.

Integration Scoping & Technical Validation

• Own the integration story in every deal — scope and demonstrate how project44 APIs and the carrier network connect into LSP tech stacks including TMS platforms (MercuryGate, TMW/PeopleNet, Oracle TMS, Blue Yonder, McLeod, etc.).
• Conduct hands‑on API prototyping — construct and execute test calls, configure webhooks, interpret JSON/XML payloads, and data‑map carrier event streams to accelerate technical validation and reduce time‑to‑close.
• Advise on carrier connectivity models relevant to LSPs: EDI (204/210/214), API‑based load tendering and tracking, ELD integrations, and ocean/air carrier APIs.
• Collaborate with Implementation and Customer Success to ensure that what is scoped in sales is achievable in delivery — protecting both customer trust and project44 margin.

Value Selling & Executive Engagement

• Build and present LSP‑specific ROI models that resonate with logistics provider economics: cost per shipment tracked, carrier compliance rates, customer retention tied to visibility SLAs, exception‑driven headcount savings, and white‑label portal value for shipper accounts.
• Design and deliver sophisticated demos, proofs of concept, and value assessments aligned to executive‑level business outcomes — customized for the specific operational model of each LSP prospect.
• Act as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders — presenting technical visions and quantified business cases that influence long‑term strategic partnerships.
• Stay current on evolving logistics industry trends (automation, AI/ML‑driven visibility, IoT, carrier API proliferation) and advise LSP customers on how project44 drives competitive differentiation.

Team & Cross‑Functional Contribution

• Partner closely with dedicated LSP Account Executives to develop and execute account strategies — operating as a tightly integrated AE/SE pod throughout the sales cycle.
• Mentor and coach Solutions Engineers, elevating team performance and consistency across global regions.
• Partner with Product and Engineering to influence the roadmap through market feedback gathered from LSP sales engagements.
• Represent project44 at industry events, webinars, and customer councils (CSCMP, FreightWaves, TIA, etc.) as a recognized thought leader in logistics technology.
• Support enablement initiatives to scale LSP‑specific best practices, talk tracks, and competitive positioning across the Solutions Engineering organization.

Requirements & Preferred Skills

• 5+ years of hands‑on operational or technical experience at a 3PL, 4PL, or managed transportation provider — including deep familiarity with carrier network operations, customer account management, TMS configuration/integration, or supply chain visibility deployments. Direct experience as an operator (operations manager, implementation lead, solutions architect, or account manager) at an LSP is strongly preferred over adjacent roles.
• Fluency in LSP‑specific processes and terminology: load tendering, carrier scorecarding, freight audit & pay, customer SLA reporting, mode optimization, drayage/intermodal operations, white‑label portals, and managed transportation program structures.
• Proven track record leading complex, multi‑stakeholder integration or operational projects — e.g., managed transportation outsourcing transitions, large‑scale carrier onboardings, TMS implementation or migration, or supply chain visibility platform deployments.

Technical Skills

• Hands‑on experience with at least one major TMS platform (MercuryGate, TMW Suite, Oracle TMS, Blue Yonder, McLeod, Transplace, etc.) from an integration, configuration, or implementation standpoint.
• Ability to work directly with APIs: reading technical documentation, constructing and executing test calls (Postman or equivalent), and interpreting JSON/XML payloads to support fast technical validation with LSP prospects.
• Experience with or strong understanding of carrier connectivity models: API‑based tendering and tracking, ELD integrations, and ocean/air carrier data feeds.
• Comfortable with light scripting (Python, JavaScript) or query writing (SQL) for demo customization, data manipulation, and proof‑of‑concept builds.
• Strong grasp of cloud architecture, integration frameworks, and data exchange standards; familiarity with information security considerations in enterprise SaaS deployments.

Communication & Sales Skills

• Excellent communication and presentation skills — able to distill complex technical and operational concepts for C‑suite audiences while maintaining depth when engaging with technical counterparts.
• Proficiency in leading discovery workshops, designing Proofs of Value, and delivering quantifiable ROI analyses tailored to logistics provider economics.
• Deep understanding of global supply chain, transportation, and logistics processes at a structural level — not just the vocabulary.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% for customer engagements, industry events, and internal collaboration.

In‑office Commitment

Our office is where ideas spark, connections thrive, and innovation comes alive. We are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic and committed to joining our team on‑site, in our beautiful headquarters four days a week.

Diversity & Inclusion

We're designing the future of how the world moves and is connected through trade and global supply chains. We can only deliver a truly world‑class product and experience if our teams are as diverse and unique as the communities we are building for. It's up to us to create a company where anyone can bring their authentic self to work every day. We're constantly working to improve, and we accept our responsibility to elevate the voices left in the margins. It's on every one of us.

Our focus on inclusion manifests in the way we hire, the customers we serve, and the regions we prioritize. We're building a company that every one of us at project44 is proud to work for: a company that celebrates you for being you.

We pride ourselves on celebrating everyone — project44 is an equal opportunity employer actively working on creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where underrepresented groups can thrive. If you share our values and our passion for helping the way the world moves, we’d love to review your application!

For any accommodations needed during the hiring process, please email [e-mail]. Even if you don’t meet 100% of the above qualifications, you should still seriously consider applying. Studies show that you can still be considered for a role if you meet just 50% of the role’s requirements.