Job Description

Automation Systems Support Engineer

Keep the Systems Running That Power Automated Cold‑Storage Facilities

Who We Are

US Cold owns and operates one of the most complex temperature-controlled logistics networks in North America. Every day, our systems coordinate the storage and movement of food at national scale across a network of state-of-the-art distribution centers, including multiple highly automated warehouse facilities.

We continue to advance our core warehouse and logistics platforms. Our current focus is on modular, event-driven, API-first and cloud architectures. We continue to enhance reliability and accelerate engineering productivity by strengthening our SRE and AI practices. This is a large investment in innovation to continue to drive operational excellence at our facilities.

If you want to build durable systems that operate in the physical world at scale, this is that opportunity.

The Role

The Automation Systems Support Engineer is responsible for the stability, reliability, and performance of the Windows server environments that power US Cold’s automated facilities.

This role focuses on the server, application, and database layers that drive cranes, conveyors, AGVs, and other automation platforms. You will not program PLCs — but you will own the systems those PLC ‑driven machines depend on.

You are the last line of defense between infrastructure failure and facility downtime.

What You Will Own

•Health and lifecycle management of Windows Server environments

(2016/2019/2022) supporting automation platforms

•Structured startup and shutdown procedures for automation ‑related services, with clear understanding of dependencies

•System diagrams and documentation that explain how servers, applications, and databases interact with physical equipment

•OS patching and security updates executed during maintenance windows with zero unexpected operational impact

•Monitoring and tuning of server performance (CPU, memory, disk I/O) to prevent automation slowdowns

•Administration of Microsoft SQL Server supporting automation applications, including backups and integrity checks

•Support and maintenance of vendor ‑provided automation applications and OS ‑level integrations

•Diagnosis and recovery of server ‑side failures that interrupt automation operations

•Ownership of system recovery during outages to restore safe and stable facility operation

This role is operationally critical. The systems you support directly determine whether automated warehouses run or stop.

Technical Environment

•Windows Server (2016, 2019, 2022)

•Microsoft SQL Server

•Azure ‑hosted and hybrid server environments

•Vendor ‑provided warehouse automation applications

•Facility automation systems including AS/RS, conveyors, AGVs, VNAs, and robotics

•Foundational enterprise networking (IP, DNS, ports, firewalls)

What We’re Looking For

•Strong hands ‑on experience with Windows Server administration and troubleshooting

•Practical SQL Server administration skills (backups, restores, connectivity, health monitoring)

•Experience supporting production ‑critical systems where uptime matters

•Working knowledge of virtualization and cloud ‑hosted server environments

•Foundational networking knowledge sufficient to diagnose connectivity and firewall issues

•Ability to reason about system dependencies and failure modes across software and machines

•Calm, structured approach to incident response in high ‑impact environments

•Experience supporting warehouse automation platforms or industrial systems

•Familiarity with WMS/WCS/WES platforms and their server ‑side components

•Background in logistics, warehousing, or high ‑throughput operational environments

•Exposure to PLC ‑driven machinery at a conceptual level

•Experience participating in incident recovery for production ‑critical systems

Why This Role Is Different

This is not a generic IT support role.

This is not application helpdesk work.

You will:

•Support systems that directly control physical automation

•Work in environments where uptime equals throughput

•Be trusted with systems that cannot fail silently

•See immediate operational results from your work

•Operate at the intersection of IT infrastructure and industrial automation

This is a role for engineers who want responsibility, not abstraction.

Operational Context

•Work occurs in both office and automated facility environments

•Systems operate continuously in temperature ‑controlled conditions

•Incident response may require on ‑site coordination during outages

•Reliability and safety are non ‑negotiable