Robotics Automation Execution Engineer Lead

With a career at The Home Depot, you can be yourself and also be part of something bigger.

Position Purpose

The Realization Engineering Lead – SIMPL Automation is responsible for leading the on-site integration, deployment, validation, and ongoing support of complex robotics and automation systems. The role works across hardware, firmware, controls, and orchestration software to ensure systems meet project requirements and performance objectives.

In addition to performing hands-on realization engineering activities, the Realization Engineering Lead serves as the primary technical leader at the project site. This individual coordinates technical activities, establishes daily priorities, drives issue resolution, communicates site status and risks, and ensures commissioning, testing, go-live, and post-go-live activities are executed effectively.

Key Responsibilities

30% System Implementation & Deployment

• Lead and execute system implementation and deployment activities across robots, AS/RS, conveyors, put walls, and related automation equipment.
• Coordinate daily on-site technical activities and establish priorities for implementation and commissioning work.
• Support integration with WES, IMS, WMS, and other orchestration software.
• Lead commissioning, configuration, installation support, and project-site deployment activities.
• Coordinate activities across internal teams, vendors, integrators, and other technical resources at the site.
• Monitor progress against project milestones and escalate risks or blockers that could impact implementation.

30% Technical Realization & Validation

• Translate project requirements and functional designs into operational automation systems.
• Lead execution of testing, go-live, and acceptance plans.
• Validate system performance against KPIs including throughput, reliability, accuracy, and operational readiness.
• Troubleshoot issues across mechanical, electrical, controls, networking, firmware, and software systems.
• Lead on-site technical triage and coordinate resources required to resolve critical issues.
• Ensure technical issues are clearly documented, assigned, prioritized, and driven through resolution.
• Serve as the primary on-site technical escalation point during commissioning and go-live activities.

20% Post-Go-Live Support

• Lead on-site and remote technical support following go-live to stabilize deployed systems.
• Establish priorities for system stabilization and coordinate issue resolution activities.
• Diagnose system faults, performance issues, and integration problems using logs, alarms, system data, and performance metrics.
• Coordinate with engineering subject matter experts when escalation is required.
• Track recurring issues, corrective actions, and outstanding technical risks.
• Communicate system health and stabilization progress to project leadership and other stakeholders.
• Ensure recurring issues and resolutions are documented for future deployments.

10% Project Execution, Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for SIMPL at the project site.
• Lead daily technical coordination and communicate site priorities, issues, risks, and required actions.
• Coordinate technical activities across engineering disciplines, implementation teams, vendors, and project stakeholders.
• Lead or participate in daily site meetings, technical reviews, and issue-resolution discussions.
• Clearly communicate technical issues to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Escalate critical project risks in a timely manner and ensure appropriate resources are engaged.
• Help maintain alignment between site activities, project schedules, and overall project objectives.

10% Continuous Improvement

• Capture lessons learned from deployments and support activities.
• Recommend improvements to system design, commissioning, troubleshooting, and implementation processes.
• Identify recurring deployment challenges and work with engineering teams to develop scalable solutions.
• Support pilot programs, innovation initiatives, and new technology deployments.
• Help standardize site execution, commissioning, troubleshooting, and handoff practices across future projects.

Direct Manager/Direct Reports

• This position reports to the designated Engineering, Implementation, or Operations leader.
• This position may have 0 formal direct reports, but is responsible for providing day-to-day technical leadership and direction to project-site resources.
• The Realization Engineering Lead may coordinate Realization Engineers, technicians, vendors, integrators, contractors, and other technical resources assigned to the project.

Travel Requirements

• 70-80% Regular travel to project sites is required for installation, commissioning, testing, go-live, and post-go-live support.
• Travel may include overnight or extended project-site assignments.
• Extended periods at customer or project locations may be required depending on project phase and deployment needs.

Work Schedule

• This position may require non-standard working hours based on project and operational needs.
• Evening, overnight, early morning, or weekend work may periodically be required during commissioning, testing, go-live, and post-go-live support.
• Flexibility to support critical project issues outside of standard business hours may be required.
• The Realization Engineering Lead may be responsible for coordinating technical coverage during critical project phases.

Physical Requirements

• Work includes both office-based activities and time in active warehouse, automation, and project-site environments.
• Frequent walking and standing may be required during deployment and support activities.
• Occasional lifting of light articles may be required.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in office, engineering lab, warehouse, distribution center, and project-site environments.
• The role may require work around operating robotics, conveyors, AS/RS equipment, and other industrial automation systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be eighteen years of age or older.
• Must be legally permitted to work in the United States.
• 3+ years of experience supporting automation, robotics, system integration, or other complex technical systems.
• Experience with system integration, commissioning, testing, deployment, or troubleshooting.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, controls, networking, firmware, and software systems.
• Strong technical problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate technical activities and drive issues through resolution.
• Ability to work independently and make sound technical decisions in a project-site environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with warehouse automation, industrial robotics, AS/RS, conveyors, sortation, put walls, or material handling systems.
• Experience integrating automation systems with WES, WMS, IMS, or similar software platforms.
• Knowledge of PLCs, industrial networking, motion control, sensors, and automation safety systems.
• Experience supporting commissioning, go-live, and post-go-live operations.
• Experience with remote troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and system performance data.
• Previous experience serving as a technical lead, commissioning lead, site lead, or similar project leadership role.
• Experience coordinating vendors, integrators, technicians, or engineering resources in a project environment.
• Experience communicating project status, risks, and technical issues to customers or senior stakeholders.

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Systems Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related technical field.

Preferred Education

• No additional education required.

Minimum Years of Work Experience

• 3

Preferred Years of Work Experience

• 3–5 years of experience in robotics, automation, system integration, commissioning, deployment, or technical support preferred.

Minimum Leadership Experience

• Demonstrated experience leading technical activities, coordinating project resources, or owning technical workstreams.

Preferred Leadership Experience

• 1–3 years of experience serving as a technical lead, commissioning lead, realization lead, site lead, or similar leadership role preferred.

Certifications

• None required.

Competencies

• Technical leadership and site coordination
• System integration and implementation
• Commissioning and deployment
• Remote and on-site troubleshooting
• Robotics and automation systems
• Hardware and software integration
• System testing and validation
• Root-cause analysis
• Technical issue prioritization and escalation
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Customer and stakeholder communication
• Continuous improvement
• Organization and planning
• Ownership and accountability