Solutions Design Project Engineer - Controls Specialty

Kion Group AG; Grand Rapids (MI); Hybrid; USD 91,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Dematic is seeking a Solution Design Project Engineer to lead design teams on large-scale material handling equipment projects. You will oversee engineering efforts, develop system concepts, and produce cost estimates while coordinating across engineering, sales, procurement, and operations.

Expect travel up to 10% and a focus on delivering high-quality, cost-effective automation solutions. Ideal candidates have a bachelor's degree in engineering and 5+ years in material handling or warehouse

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent
• 5+ years in material handling, warehouse automation, controls engineering, or complex systems engineering
• Experience with PLC control systems and controls architecture development
• Strong leadership and cross-functional coordination abilities
• Experience interpreting customer requirements and leading concept development efforts

Responsibilities

• Review customer requirements, specifications, and inputs to develop material handling and automation concepts.
• Direct team members in producing 3D models and proposal drawings.
• Generate material lists, project scope summaries, and technical proposal documentation.
• Identify controls architectures and specify machine, controls, software, and host system interfaces.
• Prepare Descriptions of Operation and ensure alignment with budgets and technical requirements.
• Own engineering activities through quotation and solution build phases.
• Respond to customer RFPs and ensure deliverables meet quality standards.

Skills

Leadership

Controls engineering

PLC control systems

WMS/WCS software

Conveyor and sortation technologies

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

AutoStore

Simulation tools

Job description

Dematic is now hiring a Solution Design Project Engineer. Successful candidates will possess relevant experience crafting and applying large-scale material handling solutions. This includes leading design teams and managing Material Handling Equipment projects. The successful candidate will have a solid understanding of mechanical design, machine controls, warehouse control software, and/or customer operations. The Solution Design Project Engineer on the Key Accounts team is responsible for overseeing the engineering efforts and estimation of large and complex MHE solution. This team member manages defining solution requirements and identifies relevant controls architectures. They produce operational outlines and support customer layout reviews. They generate or direct the development of the solution build, assist with concepting efforts, and compose system cost estimates using department tools and processes. This role will lead, schedule, plan and manage all the technical activities with attention to project accuracy and quality.

We offer: Career Development Competitive Compensation and Benefits Pay Transparency Global Opportunities

Dematic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

The base pay range for this role is estimated to be $90,750 to $125,000 at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined by various factors such as work location, education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Tasks and Qualifications: What you will do in this role

• Review customer requirements, specifications, and sales inputs; collaborate with internal and external partners to develop executable material handling and automation system concepts.
• Direct team members in producing 3D models and proposal drawings to attain concept freeze.
• Generate material lists, project scope summaries, and technical proposal documentation.
• Identify controls architectures, define control boundaries, and specify machine, controls, software, and host system interfaces.
• Examine customer Description of Operations (DOO) requirements and prepare proposal-level Descriptions of Operation that specify system functionality and capabilities.
• Generate controls and electrical quote requests, evaluate vendor proposals, and ensure alignment with project budgets and technical requirements.
• Identify and apply standard subsystems, builds, and automation modules where appropriate.
• Identify and assess project risks while developing effective mitigation strategies.
• Set priorities and foster strong collaboration across engineering, sales, procurement, and operations teams.
• Lead technical reviews, pricing reviews, and solution validation activities.
• Develop cost breakouts, bridging analyses, and value-engineering recommendations to optimize system performance and cost.
• Own all engineering activities and deliverables throughout the project quotation and solution build phases.
• Provide accountability for technical, cost, and contractual aspects of assigned projects while serving as a key liaison to internal teams and external vendors.
• Fully interpret, evaluate, and respond to customer RFPs, specifications, and operational requirements.
• Ensure all deliverables meet quality standards and align with Solution Design processes and procedures.

What we are looking for

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in material handling, warehouse automation, controls engineering, or complex systems engineering.
• Background in one or more of the following: Mechatronics Engineering, Systems Engineering, Controls Engineering, Application Engineering, or Industrial Engineering.
• Strong leadership abilities with the capacity to coordinate and guide cross-functional teams.
• Experience interpreting customer requirements, developing technical solutions, and leading concept development efforts.
• Experience with PLC control systems and controls architecture development.
• Practical understanding of WMS/WCS software, system integration, and machine-to-host interfaces.
• Experience with conveyor and sortation technologies, including case conveyor, linear sortation, crossbelt sortation, and pallet conveyor systems.
• Preferred experience with bulk handling, ASRS/unit load systems, monorail systems, AutoStore, simulation tools, and structural integration.
• Strong problem-solving, risk assessment, cost evaluation, and value-engineering capabilities.
• Proficient in both written and verbal communication, capable of crafting operational narratives and technical documentation.
• Up to 10% travel.
• Additional travel may be required during the first 6-12 months for training and project support.

#LI-JR1

KION brands keep the world moving - globally, regionally, and locally. KION is the Supply Chain Solutions Company. With over 42,000 employees in more than 100 countries, we enable smart, sustainable, and reliable supply chains worldwide - wherever goods are stored, moved, or delivered. KION offers its customers the full spectrum of solutions to make their supply chains future-ready. Our international brands, Linde Material Handling, STILL, and Baoli and our regional brands, Fenwick and OM, stand for outstanding technological innovation, intelligent automation and service excellence in forklift trucks and warehouse equipment. Dematic complements this expertise with state-of-the-art automation technology and AI-supported software solutions that optimize intralogistics across warehousing, production, and distribution. Whether locally or globally - we offer exciting career opportunities in an innovative environment shaped by our core values: Integrity, Collaboration, Courage, and Excellence. Together, we create the magic of supply chain solutions. Join our team - Push it forward.