World Wide Engineering & Innovation (WWEI) is seeking an Industrial Design Engineer to focus on development and validation of next-generation automation products in partnership with third-party vendors. This role will work closely with hardware engineering teams and external partners to design, prototype, and test automation solutions across material handling, robotics, and industrial automation applications. The engineer will help translate operational requirements into product specifications and influence mechanical design, system architecture, and integration strategies.
This role will lead prototype development, testing, and performance validation, working with vendors to iterate designs and improve reliability, throughput, and safety. The Industrial Design Engineer will define test plans, evaluate KPIs, and provide recommendations on product readiness for pilot deployment. This is a high-visibility role requiring collaboration with engineering, operations, safety, and vendor partners to mature early-stage concepts into scalable automation products and influence long-term automation strategy. This position requires approximately 25% or more travel to vendor sites, testing locations, and pilot deployments.
Key job responsibilities
The Industrial Design Engineer will support development of automation products in partnership with third-party vendors from concept through pilot readiness. This role will translate operational needs into product requirements, collaborate with hardware engineering teams, and work directly with vendors to design, prototype, and iterate automation solutions. The engineer will evaluate mechanical concepts, review layouts, and ensure designs meet safety, performance, and scalability expectations.
This position will lead testing and validation activities, including defining test plans, executing trials, and analyzing performance metrics such as throughput, reliability, and operational efficiency. The role will identify design gaps, drive improvements with vendors, and support engineering trade-off decisions. The Industrial Design Engineer will also coordinate prototype builds, support FAT/SAT activities, and ensure readiness for pilot deployment.
The engineer will partner with cross-functional stakeholders including engineering, operations, safety, and maintenance teams to validate product performance in operational environments. This role will influence product direction, document learnings, and support transition from prototype to scalable deployment while managing risks and improving product robustness.
A day in the life
As an Industrial Design Engineer focused on product development with third-party vendors, you will work closely with hardware engineering teams and external partners to mature automation concepts into deployable products. A typical day may include reviewing vendor designs, providing feedback on mechanical layouts, and aligning on requirements for performance, safety, and integration. You will collaborate with engineering, operations, safety, and maintenance stakeholders to refine use cases and define testing objectives.
The role also involves supporting prototype builds, traveling to vendor sites or testing locations, and executing validation plans. You will analyze test results, track KPIs such as throughput and reliability, and identify design improvements. Throughout the day, you will coordinate with cross-functional teams, document learnings, influence design decisions, and help determine readiness for pilot deployment and future scaling.
About the team
World Wide Engineering & Innovation (WWEI) Automation focuses on developing and scaling next-generation automation solutions across sortation, transportation, and fulfillment operations. The team partners closely with internal engineering groups and third-party vendors to prototype, test, and mature early-stage automation concepts into deployable products. We work on robotics, material handling equipment, and industrial automation solutions designed to improve safety, productivity, and operational scalability across a global logistics network.
The team operates in a highly collaborative environment, working with engineering, operations, safety, and maintenance stakeholders to validate solutions in real-world conditions. Engineers on this team influence product direction through hands-on testing, vendor collaboration, and performance analysis. The work involves turning early concepts into robust, scalable automation products that solve operational challenges and support long-term technology roadmaps.