Systems Commissioning Engineer

Job Title: Systems Commissioning Engineer
Department: Automation Implementation
Location: Remote - Travel
Employment Type: Full Time

The Systems Commissioning Engineer is responsible for leading the final integration, testing, troubleshooting, validation, and operational readiness activities for automated material handling and warehouse automation systems prior to customer acceptance and go-live.

This role comes in near the end of a project and helps run the system through its full operational paces. The position verifies that system components function together as designed, identifies issues that could affect startup or customer operations, and coordinates feedback and issue resolution with the appropriate internal teams and third-party vendors.

The Systems Commissioning Engineer acts as the final technical integrator between installation, controls, software, robotics, AGV/AMR vendors, project management, and customer operations. The role does not replace PLC engineering, software development, or vendor technical support. Instead, it ensures that issues are found, documented, routed, prioritized, and verified before the system is turned over to the customer.

• Lead on-site commissioning activities for automated warehouse and material handling systems.
• Execute startup plans for conveyors, sorters, palletizing systems, ASRS, robotic cells, AGV/AMR systems, safety systems, and third-party equipment.
• Verify that controls, software, mechanical equipment, networking, and customer-facing operating workflows function together as an integrated system.
• Support initial production ramp-up and go-live activities.

• Develop, maintain, and execute commissioning checklists, functional test scripts, and site acceptance test procedures.
• Perform device verification, I/O validation, functional testing, failure recovery testing, stress testing, and throughput validation.
• Validate system behavior against project requirements, operational expectations, and agreed acceptance criteria.
• Confirm that fixes are implemented and retested before issue closure.

• Diagnose issues across mechanical, electrical, controls, software, robotics, networking, and integration layers.
• Reproduce problems, isolate likely root cause areas, and clearly communicate required action to the correct owner.
• Coordinate escalation to PLC, software, mechanical, robotics, AGV/AMR, WMS/WCS, and other vendor teams as needed.
• Identify operational workarounds when appropriate while permanent corrections are being completed.

• Create and maintain commissioning punch lists, issue logs, defect summaries, and action item trackers.
• Document observed behavior, steps to reproduce, screenshots or logs where applicable, business impact, root cause updates, corrective actions, and verification status.
• Prioritize issues based on safety, go-live impact, operational disruption, customer impact, and schedule risk.
• Provide recurring commissioning status updates to project stakeholders.

• Serve as a technical bridge between Project Management, Controls Engineering, Software, Mechanical Engineering, Installation, Lifecycle Services, customers, and equipment vendors.
• Coordinate issue ownership and resolution without becoming the default owner for every fix.
• Support customer readiness discussions and help confirm the system is prepared for operational turnover.
• Feed lessons learned back into future project standards, test plans, templates, and commissioning processes.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, Automation, Industrial Technology, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent experience in automation, controls, material handling, warehouse systems, or field commissioning may be considered.
• 3 or more years of experience in automation, systems integration, field startup, controls, software implementation, equipment commissioning, or warehouse automation preferred.

• Working understanding of PLC-controlled equipment, HMI systems, electrical devices, sensors, motors, VFDs, safety circuits, and industrial networks.
• Familiarity with warehouse automation systems such as conveyor, sortation, ASRS, robotic palletizing, picking systems, AGVs, AMRs, scanners, scales, and label print/apply equipment.
• Ability to interpret electrical drawings, mechanical layouts, controls…