Solution Design Team Lead

This position Leads a team of Solution Design Engineers with the intent of evaluating multiple Design concepts and recommending Concepts that have the best Business Case and Right to Win. The number of Opportunities handled by a squad is usually between 7 and 17, balancing between pre-sales and post-contract engagements. Proper time management, prioritization, delegation, level of detail, and work forecasting is paramount for this critical Sales Engineering position.

Typically, squads are comprised of 3-4 team members each with tiered levels of experience and aptitudes. The goal of the Squad Team Lead is to manage the workload of the squad and balance the number of Opps within a squad (keeping the team balanced & busy) while also ensuring that the squad recommendations made are of high caliber, properly vetted, properly costed and designed. Squad involvement starts at the assignment of new Opps, continues through a ROM phase until a final design lock is achieved, and then proceeds through a firm pricing phase.

The Squad Leader will ensure that team members are growing and aware of their opportunities to improve, giving active coaching and the ability to upskill and gain exposure to growth areas.

A primary focus of this position is leading a team of Solution Design Engineers to satisfactorily deliver all Sales Opp deliverables efficiently, accurately and in a timely manner.

A Squad Team Lead is responsible for overseeing multiple Opps with limited supervision and will be capable of supporting all phases of a Presales project including data analysis, requirements definition, alternatives evaluation, concepting, description of operations, business case development, and presentation of customer deliverables.

The Squad Team Lead is part of the Solution Design Leadership Team and reports to the Solution Design Director.

Job Functions:

• Meet with client employees, executives, or other stakeholders to understand the challenges faced by the client organization
• Guide the research and analysis conducted by Solution Design Engineers and use this information to draw conclusions and develop recommendations including:
• Activity profiles and design requirements
• Appropriate order fulfillment methodologies, storage media, process design, and material handling technologies/applications
• Oversee the development of conceptual design solutions; communicate and transition conceptual designs to Sales Engineering teams with the intent of developing ROM and Firm quotes.
• Develop labor & financial models to evaluate alternative solutions and prepare business case analyses
• Prepare materials to describe recommended solutions including description of operations, throughput and storage capacities, business case documentation, Basis for Desgin, etc.
• Lead in presenting research, findings, deliverables, and recommendations to clients and Sales Partners.
• Support the development of a Proposal level Description of Operations (DOO) and lead the Handoff transition to Delivery once a project is won.
• Support recruitment initiatives, to include participating in interviews, Job Fairs, etc.
• Maintain knowledge of emerging material handling technologies and industry best practices
• Lead initiatives to improve Solution Design Analysis tools, templates, and processes (Kaizen) and provide input into standards and process development objectives
• Provide leadership, coaching, and/or mentoring to Squad Members; actively participate in the development and training of our team members.
• Proven ability to lead team (3-4 members)
• Known to be a good team member as well as excel in mentoring newer employees (good coach and a player)
• Known to help our customers be successful in their endeavor for their specific markets.
• Proven to develop processes to help support our team growth
• Be able to handle day-to-day supervisory duties as well as conduct annual reviews for their team members
• Be fiscally responsible for their team as well as all the projects undertaken by their team
• Consistently meets Administrative Requirements including:
• No late safety or security trainings for self or team in past 2 years
• Good track record (>95%) timesheets in for self and team in past 2 years
• Expense reports in not later than 2 months for self and the team in past 2 years

Travel Requirements:

• 25% overnight travel (Travel expenses paid by Toyota Automated Logistics)

Required Qualifications and Preferred Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial or Mechanical Engineering
• MBA Preferred
• 10 years experience analyzing, sizing, designing, justifying, and implementing complex material handling solutions in a leadership role
• 2 years of experience as solution design manager in industry
• Must be eligible to work in the USA long term without sponsorship.
• Employees must follow all information security policies, protect confidential data, complete required training, and report any suspected security incidents to support our information security controls.

About Toyota Automated Logistics:

Toyota Automated Logistics is your global partner for integrated warehouse automation. Our team combines the talents of Bastian Solutions, Vanderlande’s warehousing business and viastore under one brand to deliver scalable systems, intelligent software and life-cycle services.

In addition to exciting work at a growing company, we offer the following benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with a company match
• Vacation / Holiday Pay
• Paid Volunteer time off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Professional Associations, Conferences and Subscriptions
• Company Meetings & Events

Toyota Automated Logistics does not work with outside recruiting agencies. No solicitation phone calls please.