Systems Engineer - Warehouse Automation & OT

About this role

Position Overview

Data Micro Technologies is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer – Warehouse Automation & OT to support the Distribution Engineering organization at Johnson & Johnson Vision in Jacksonville, Florida.

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of industrial automation, warehouse technology, operational technology (OT), controls, infrastructure, and systems engineering .

The engineer will initially support existing distribution operations at the Deerwood campus while playing an important role in the transition to a new, approximately 1,000,000-square-foot automated distribution center near Jacksonville International Airport .

You will help design, integrate, qualify, troubleshoot, and sustain the automation and technology infrastructure supporting a modern distribution operation.

We are especially interested in candidates with hands-on experience in Allen-Bradley/Rockwell controls, PLC troubleshooting, warehouse automation, material-handling systems, OT environments, and industrial systems integration .

This is not a traditional corporate IT Systems Engineer position. The role is closely connected to warehouse-floor automation and operational technology and requires someone comfortable working directly with engineering technicians, operations teams, automation vendors, and industrial equipment.

What You'll Do Warehouse Automation & Operational Support

• Provide technical support for integrated and automated warehouse-floor systems.
• Troubleshoot issues involving PLCs, controls, applications, warehouse systems, industrial networks, servers, and material-handling equipment .
• Perform root cause analysis for automation and controls failures.
• Partner directly with Operations and Engineering teams to minimize downtime and improve system reliability.
• Support preventive maintenance, diagnostics, system upgrades, and lifecycle activities.
• Develop operating procedures, troubleshooting documentation, user manuals, and training materials.
• Train engineering technicians, operational users, and support personnel.
• Perform impact assessments related to system failures and operational disruptions.

Systems Engineering & Integration

• Support the integration of facility-floor technology, warehouse automation, and enterprise systems.
• Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot applications supporting distribution operations.
• Support the design and implementation of OT networks and compute infrastructure for the new distribution center.
• Assist with phased equipment deployments, system upgrades, migrations, and retirements.
• Support integration of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Warehouse Control Systems (WCS), Material Handling Equipment (MHE), conveyors, sortation systems, ASRS, PLCs, and associated infrastructure .
• Evaluate third-party technologies, automation equipment, suppliers, and technical solutions.
• Support onboarding, integration, and technical qualification of material-handling and automation suppliers.

Controls & Industrial Automation

• Support and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation PLC environments .
• Diagnose and modify ladder logic as required to support automated operations.
• Troubleshoot ControlLogix, FactoryTalk, industrial communications, sensors, control panels, and related automation technologies .
• Perform electrical and controls troubleshooting in accordance with applicable safety requirements.
• Work with automation vendors and internal engineering teams to resolve complex equipment and integration issues.

Validation, Compliance & Change Control

• Partner with Quality, Validation, IT, Cybersecurity, Engineering, and Operations to implement compliant system changes.
• Support systems operating within FDA-regulated and cGMP environments .
• Develop and execute Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ) activities.
• Participate in risk assessments, change controls, system qualification, and validation activities.
• Support controls associated with system security, electronic records, audit trails, backup, recovery, and data retention.

Project Leadership

• Lead and support automation, infrastructure, and systems engineering projects.
• Coordinate technical activities across Engineering, Operations, IT, Cybersecurity, Quality, Validation, and external vendors.
• Support project planning, budgeting, capital planning, scheduling, and prioritization.
• Participate in vendor selection, technical evaluation, qualification, and performance management.
• Transition mature systems and support processes to Operations while maintaining appropriate engineering governance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in:
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Computer Science
• Information Technology
• Cybersecurity
• Supply Chain Management
• Logistics
• Business Administration with relevant technical experience
• Or a related engineering or technical discipline
• Experience
• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation, systems engineering, warehouse technology, manufacturing systems, material handling, distribution engineering, or operational technology.
• 3+ years supporting automated warehouse, manufacturing, logistics, or material-handling environments.
• 3+ years working with industrial controls, PLCs, automation systems, or OT infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience diagnosing PLC, controls, equipment, system integration, or industrial network issues .
• Experience working directly with operations and engineering teams in production or distribution environments.
• Experience supporting equipment vendors, system integrators, or automation suppliers.
• Experience coordinating technical projects across multiple stakeholders.
• Core Technical SkillsIndustrial Automation & Controls
• Strong hands-on experience with:
• Allen-Bradley / Rockwell Automation
• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
• ControlLogix
• Ladder Logic
• FactoryTalk environments
• Industrial controls and automation
• Electrical and controls troubleshooting
• Industrial communications
• Root cause analysis of equipment and controls failures
• Warehouse & Distribution Technology
• Experience with several of the following:
• Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
• Warehouse Control Systems (WCS)
• Material Handling Equipment (MHE)
• Conveyor systems
• Sortation systems
• Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS)
• Warehouse automation
• Industrial system integration
• Distribution center operations
• Operational Technology & Infrastructure
• Working knowledge of:
• Operational Technology (OT) environments
• Industrial networking
• Windows Server
• Networked industrial devices
• Application and infrastructure troubleshooting
• System deployment and lifecycle management
• Cybersecurity principles within OT environments
• SDLC and change management

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in one or more of the following areas would be beneficial but is not required :
• Regulated Environments
• FDA-regulated operations
• Medical device or pharmaceutical environments
• cGMP
• Computer system validation

- Iq/Oq/Pq

• Electronic records/electronic signatures

Data & Analytics

• Microsoft SQL Server
• Oracle Database

- Ibm Db2

• SQL query development
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Data extraction and analysis
• Dashboard/KPI reporting
• Data-driven process improvement

Additional Automation Technologies

• FactoryTalk AssetCentre
• FactoryTalk Historian
• Machine vision systems
• Robotics

Professional Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

- Strong troubleshooting and root-cause-analysis skills

• Ability to solve problems across controls, software, infrastructure, and equipment
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Ability to collaborate with both technical and operational teams

- Project leadership and stakeholder-management skills

• Vendor and supplier coordination experience

- Strong organization and prioritization skills

• A continuous-improvement mindset
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced distribution environment

Benefits

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual Salary: $105,000
• Paid Time Off: 15 days annually
• Retirement: 3% employer matching contribution
• Health Insurance: Medical benefits offered
• Contract-to-Hire: Role will convert to a John & Johnson Vision employed Staff Engineer at end of 1 year contract based on performance.