USA) Senior Manager, Automation Engineering - Launch Readiness & Ramp Execution

Position: (USA) Senior Manager, Automation Engineering - Launch Readiness & Ramp Execution
Position Summary

Walmart is seeking an experienced Sr Manager, Launch Readiness & Ramp Execution to lead business readiness, go-live planning, startup execution, and operational ramp-up for automation programs across the supply chain network. This role owns the integrated launch plan across Engineering, Operations, Technology, Construction, Transportation, Finance, vendors, and site leadership to ensure facilities are ready to launch safely, stabilize quickly, and achieve targeted business outcomes.

What You'll Do

Lead Launch Strategy and Readiness Planning

Develop and execute integrated launch readiness strategies for automation programs across greenfield and retrofit facilities.

Establish go-live frameworks, readiness scorecards, launch criteria, and decision-making routines.

Coordinate commissioning, startup, stabilization, ramp, and transition-to-operations activities.

Own Ramp-Up Performance

Develop ramp strategies, performance targets, launch sequencing, and site stabilization plans.

Monitor KPIs including throughput, productivity, service levels, issue closure, staffing readiness, training readiness, and system performance.

Drive issue resolution during startup, hypercare, and stabilization to accelerate time to steady-state operations.

Drive Cross-Functional Execution

Lead alignment across Engineering, Operations, Technology, Construction, Transportation, Finance, vendors, and site leadership.

Facilitate launch governance, readiness reviews, executive updates, dependency management, and escalation processes.

Translate technical execution status into business readiness decisions and operational risk mitigation plans.

Ensure Operational Readiness

Partner with Operations to validate staffing, training, maintenance readiness, test freight, process readiness, and support coverage.

Align engineering deliverables with operational requirements, service commitments, labor plans, transportation impacts, and business objectives.

Support successful handoff from implementation to hypercare, stabilization, and steady-state ownership.

Capture and Scale Launch Learnings

Document launch and ramp lessons learned and convert them into repeatable launch / ramp frameworks.

Improve startup methodologies, readiness tools, stakeholder cadences, and go / no-go decision practices.

Apply learnings across future automation programs to reduce launch risk and accelerate value realization.

What You'll Bring

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Logistics, or related field.

5+ years leading startup, launch, implementation, commissioning, operational readiness, or transformation programs.

Experience coordinating large cross-functional teams and stakeholder groups.

Experience managing operational readiness, go-live planning, ramp execution, or stabilization activities.

Preferred Qualifications

MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Experience with distribution center startups, automation deployments, material handling systems, or large-scale operational transformations.

Experience with business readiness, hypercare, stabilization, capacity planning, labor planning, or launch command-center models.

Supply chain, logistics, distribution, warehouse operations, or manufacturing startup experience.

Preferred Candidate Profile

Thrives in fast-paced launch, startup, and stabilization environments.

Strong operational mindset with the ability to connect technical execution to business outcomes.

Excellent stakeholder management, executive communication, and decision facilitation skills.

Comfortable leading through ambiguity, operational pressure, and competing priorities.

Focused on readiness, adoption, ramp performance, and value realization.

How This Role Makes an Impact

This role accelerates automation value realization by ensuring each site is ready to launch, ramp, stabilize, and transition to steady-state operations with clear ownership, aligned stakeholders, strong operational readiness, and disciplined launch execution.

Additional Information

Location:

Bentonville, AR or site-based depending on program needs.

Travel:
Program dependent, with travel to distribution, construction, vendor, and launch sites as needed.

Work Environment:
Office and active distribution / industrial environments, including temperature-controlled facilities.

At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more.

You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The…