FORTNA partners with the world’s leading brands to transform omnichannel and parcel distribution operations. Known world-wide for enabling companies to keep pace with digital disruption and growth objectives, we design and deliver solutions, powered by intelligent software, to optimize fast, accurate and cost-effective order fulfillment and last mile delivery. Our people, innovative approach and proprietary algorithms and tools ensure optimal operations design and material and information flow. We deliver exceptional value every day to our customers with comprehensive services and products including network strategy, distribution center operational design and implementation, material handling automated equipment, robotics and a comprehensive suite of lifecycle services.
At FORTNA, we believe in fostering a workplace that isn't just a job but a movement – a collective effort to redefine success and transform challenges into opportunities. "Join the Movement" encapsulates our commitment to a workplace culture that thrives on collaboration, celebrates diversity, and empowers every individual to contribute to something greater than themselves. Our Team. Our Passion. Our Approach.
The Senior Manager, Ignition Product Team, provides strategic direction, technical leadership, and operational oversight for the development, deployment, and lifecycle management of Ignition-based industrial automation solutions at FORTNA globally. This leader will focus primarily on the WCS-Ignition portion of the product portfolio, collaborating closely with the WCS Product Owner, who is responsible for the WCS product line. The Senior Manager will drive the vision, execution, and continuous improvement of scalable Ignition solutions, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and industry best practices across all regions.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development- Define and drive the strategic vision for the Ignition product line, ensuring alignment with FORTNA’s global objectives and market trends.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of managers, architects, and engineers across regions, fostering a high-performance, innovative, and collaborative culture.
- Champion continuous improvement, standardization, and adoption of best practices for Ignition development and deployment worldwide.
- Serve as executive sponsor for key Ignition initiatives and drive cross-functional collaboration with Software, Controls, IT Security, and Project Management teams.
- Oversee the architecture, design, and deployment of enterprise-grade Ignition solutions, ensuring scalability, security, and maintainability.
- Lead the development and enforcement of standardized templates, project structures, and engineering processes for Ignition deployments.
- Act as the final technical escalation point for high-impact Ignition issues, design reviews, and risk assessments.
- Stay current with Ignition platform updates and industry trends, influencing the Ignition product roadmap and technical direction.
- Own the operating model for the Ignition product team, including resource planning, capacity management, and global team structure.
- Oversee Ignition project delivery, ensuring adherence to budgets, schedules, and quality standards across all regions.
- Implement and monitor KPIs, performance metrics, and reporting requirements for the Ignition product team.
- Lead risk mitigation, stakeholder communications, and ensure compliance with cybersecurity and regulatory standards (e.g., NIST, ISA/IEC 62443).
- Serve as executive liaison for key client engagements related to Ignition, ensuring technical delivery excellence and long-term partnerships.
- Collaborate with IT, cybersecurity, and business stakeholders to ensure secure integration and alignment with enterprise systems.
- Support disaster recovery, high-availability configurations, and robust system documentation for Ignition solutions.
- Work in close partnership with the WCS Product Owner to ensure seamless integration and alignment between Ignition and WCS products.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Industrial Automation, or related field; advanced certifications preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in industrial automation, with at least 5 years in a senior managerial role overseeing multi-region teams and large-scale projects.
- Deep expertise in Ignition platform architecture, SCADA/HMI systems, and industrial control systems.
- Sound knowledge of the material handling domain, including industry standards, technologies, and best practices relevant to automated systems and warehouse operations.
- Proven experience in standardizing technical practices, scaling engineering teams, and delivering complex automation solutions globally.
- Strong business acumen, excellent communication, influencing, and presentation skills.
- Experience with cybersecurity frameworks, network security, and secure system integration.
- Inductive Automation Ignition Core Certification (Perspective) required; Gold Certification preferred.
- Proficiency in Python (Jython), SQL databases, and modern DevOps practices is highly desirable.
- Willingness to travel regionally and globally as needed.
- Reports to: Director of Engineering.
- Location: Remote or hybrid, with global travel as required.
This job description describes the general nature and level of work expected of a person assigned to this position. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. Employees may be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor.
It is the policy of FORTNA and its affiliated companies to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, citizenship status (if authorized to work in the U.S.), or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, FORTNA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
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