WES Solutions Architect

About the Role: 

As the WES Solutions Architect on the DATUM team, under the leadership of the VP of Software, you will own the functional definition of our software scope, translating what we sell into what we build. This is a new role on the DATUM team, created to close the gap between the sale and the software. 

Your work first begins with providing collaborative inputs to the Solutions Software team who takes point on presales through proposal generation, the Level 1 Software Design Specification (SDS), and the ROM estimate. There is a collaborative handoff from Solutions that you will further expand into a Level 2 SDS and a firm estimate that attach to the proposal. From there you carry the definition through delivery, kick-off, detailed design workshops, onsite discovery, integration specifications, and daily partnership with the Development lead as the design matures into working software. 

DCS will appreciate your rigor, your curiosity, your ability to hold a room of stakeholders, and your instinct for asking the question nobody thought to ask before development starts. Most of all we will appreciate that we can count on you to get things done. 

In this role, you will: 

• Develop the Level 2 SDS, expanding on the Level 1 SDS and solutions guidance produced by the Solutions Software team, to attach to the customer proposal. 
• Build firm estimates for software scope at contract, converting ROM-level pre-sales numbers into committed hours, deliverables, and assumptions. 
• Partner with the Solutions Software team through the L1 to L2 transition so that the scope sold is the scope delivered, surfacing gaps and risks early. 
• Support in person project kick-offs and lead detailed design workshops with customers, internal stakeholders, and the Software Delivery Team. 
• Conduct onsite discovery at customer facilities to validate operational requirements, material flow, process exceptions, and existing systems. 
• Participate in and/or lead project Scrum ceremonies, and own and groom the project backlog. 
• Maintain and update the SDS with the Development lead throughout design and development, keeping the specification and the build aligned as decisions are made. 
• Author 3rd-party integration specifications for the subsystems DATUM orchestrates; print and apply, robotics, sortation, scales and dimensioners, parcel and carrier systems, and similar. 
• Author WMS/ERP integration specifications defining messaging, data mapping, transaction flows, and error handling between DATUM and host systems. 
• Define detailed IT and network specifications, including server and virtualization requirements, hardware, networking, security, and infrastructure needs. 
• Define the DATUM-to-Controls integration specification in partnership with the Controls Engineering team. 
• Provide inputs to the Product and R&D teams, drawn primarily from project needs and the sales pipeline, to help shape the DATUM roadmap. 
• Travel to customer sites as required for discovery, design workshops, design reviews, and commissioning support. Anticipated level of travel is up to 50%. 
• Represent the Software department with the highest standards of ethics and integrity. 
• Evaluate organizational performance data to identify areas of opportunity and adapt. 

We’re Excited About You Because: 

• You have 8 or more years of experience in software development, systems analysis, solution design, or technical project delivery for WES/WCS, WMS, or other industrial software. 
• You have a technical bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.  Potentially Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, or equivalent experience. 
• You have written design specifications, functional requirements, or integration documents that development teams built from, and you can defend them in front of a customer. 
• You understand material handling automation and where a warehouse execution system sits between WMS/ERP above and PLC-level controls below. 
• You have hands-on experience specifying integrations, REST/APIs, messaging, flat file, EDI, and the realities of someone else’s system on the other end. 
• You are comfortable estimating software scope, stating your assumptions, and standing behind the number. 
• You have worked in an Agile/Scrum environment, managed a backlog, and are proficient with Jira or Azure DevOps. 
• You are excited to play a key role in helping build and grow the DCS Software Team – and to shape a role that is new to it. 
• You’re able to deliver results in fast-paced and high-stress environments. 
• You are an enabler and enhancer of our company culture. 
• You have excellent communication skills and you’re able to work well with clients, management, and multidiscipline teams. 
• You’re a self-motivated performer who can execute with minimum supervision and guidance. 
• You’re a creative problem-solver who can manage multiple complex tasks and projects at a time. 
• You are proficient in MS Office products and diagramming tools such as Visio, Draw.io or Lucidchart. Familiarity with SQL, log review, and modern software project management suites is a plus. 

About Us: 

Conveyor may be in our name, but it’s only part of what we do. DCS was founded in 1982 and has grown to serve major clients in multiple industries by providing material handling, full-scale warehouse operations and conveyor design solutions that are custom crafted for their need. We don’t sell ready-made systems - we build relationships that empower us to craft custom solutions together. It’s the teamwork approach, sharing ideas and building upon them, that produces the best results.   

And DCS is committed to creating an extraordinary employment experience for our team. We work like crazy to hire and develop great people, build relationships, and ensure that the programs and services we offer our team are among the best in the business- from a killer snack wall and casual work environment to flexible PTO and opportunities to give back within the community.

More reasons to join our team:   

• We pride ourselves in our family-like culture and casual, but focused, work environment   
• We offer competitive salaries and health benefits   
• Our 401K program includes a 100% match up to 5%   
• Participation in our Discretionary Profit-Sharing Program   
• We offer our employees flexibility and autonomy   
• We do community outreach projects throughout the year   
• We know how to throw company events   
• We work hard, but we also know how to have fun - darts, anyone?

Individuals seeking employment at Designed Conveyor Systems are considered without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Accommodation is available to applicants with a disability condition, when applying, testing, or interviewing for a position. Please let us know if you need accommodation.