Solution Engineer – IT Automation

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

We are seeking a Solution Engineer – IT Automation for First Quality Enterprises.  This position will be onsite at our Lock Haven facility and will require 40-70% travel to our manufacturing sites in OH, GA, PA and SC.

The IT Automation team provides strategic direction, technical/functional expertise, and product management for First Quality’s Automation solutions including Warehouse Automation, AS/RS solutions, and Automated-Guided Vehicles. The Solution Engineer, as a key member of the IT Automation Team, provides functional and technical leadership for the definition, design, and delivery of First Quality’s automation systems.   

Solution Engineers are assigned one or more specialization area(s) such as Self-Guided Vehicle systems, automated storage and retrieval systems and other material handling solutions. This position is responsible for partnering with site engineering and operations team to ensure projects are deployed successfully. The person in this role will interact with team members within First Quality plant locations to define business requirements, scope solutions, develop specifications, and oversee delivery of solutions.

This position is the primary engineering contact for their assigned system of specialization and, as such, serves as the 3rd level support escalation point for their assigned system(s). This position will be held accountable for the training and education of operations team members on automation systems specifically related to their assigned site’s warehouse control systems, warehouse automation, AS/RS, and automated-guided vehicles, with the goal to fully utilize their system(s) capabilities. The person in this position will work closely with the leaders and Solution Engineers in the areas of Planning & Architecture, Business Systems/Warehouse Management Systems, Analytics, Software Quality Assurance, Enterprise Application Integration, Manufacturing Systems, Infrastructure Engineering, Database Engineering, Information Security and Solution Support to maintain a complete end-to-end systems lifecycle (Architecture to Support). As such, proven evidence of being a team player is critical for success in this role.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Provides input into overall direction, development and integration of warehouse control systems, warehouse automation (AS/RS), and automated guided vehicles.

• Focuses on strategic initiatives and plans; is proactive, anticipatory, and driving in nature to provide significant value to divisions/functions.

• Plays a lead role in enabling the business to achieve their objectives through the effective use of technology and continuous improvement.

• Work with business leadership to document a clear vision of a business opportunities and how they support the business plan.

• Works with the Campus/Divisions to understand business strategy and define system requirements.

• Ensures sound integration of processes for assigned systems across FQ.

• Serves as Subject Matter Expert for assigned systems in the areas of: Integration, Warehouse Control Systems, Material Handling Equipment, AS/RS, and Automated-Guided Vehicle integration to Business Systems (SAP, SAP-EWM)

• Ensures relevant Automation systems data is available in First Quality Analytics platform.

• Leads the delivery of assigned Automation Systems projects on time, within budget and meeting business requirements.

• Ensures adherence to IT enterprise architecture principles and guidelines.

• Ensures all assigned solutions are designed, built, and deployed to meet or exceed application performance and maintainability requirements thus enabling scalability and continuous updates from software vendors.

• Stays current on emerging Automation Solution technologies.

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field, in lieu of degree a combination of education and additional experience will be considered. 

• Automation / Material handling Systems experience with a focus on warehouse management systems or material handling equipment automation

• 5 plus years of progressive IT/OT experience with at least 3 years in Automation Systems, warehouse control software implementation and integration or factory automation systems

• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills with excellent written and verbal communications skills

• Experience/exposure to Programming Languages: C/C++/VC++, JAVA, JavaScript, VB/VBA, ABAP, C#, ASP, SQL, XML, HTML, PLC

• Ability and desire to engage with assigned business functions of the Enterprise to understand and articulate the business requirements as well as the IT capabilities and requirements

• Experience in system testing and system testing methodology

• Experience implementing software used in 24X7 environments

• Experience with the main functions and responsibilities within Supply Chain including Warehousing, Inventory Management, Logistics, and automation including Automated-Guided Vehicles, RF, etc.

• Experience with robotics and IOT devices

• Domestic travel 40% - 70% depending on location

Work Environment:

• Combination of office environment, warehouse environment, and manufacturing floor environment

What We Offer You

We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities

• Paid time off (three-week minimum)

• Medical, dental and vision starting day one

• 401(k) with employer match

• Paid parental leave

• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)

• Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)

• Tuition assistance

• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums

• ...and more!