OVERVIEW

*Location of the role can be Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Texas or Maryland*

The Senior Director, Distribution Engineering is a critical leadership role responsible for driving performance improvement, innovation, and operational excellence across ALO’s global distribution network — from suppliers through distribution centers to the back rooms of retail stores.

This role serves as the functional expert in process engineering, automation, material handling systems, and facility design, leading a global team of engineers who architect the systems and processes that power ALO’s fulfillment and retail operations.

Partnering closely with Operations, Retail, IT, and Planning leaders, the Senior Director defines and implements a multi-year strategy for the standardization, optimization, and automation of distribution processes across ALO’s internal and third-party logistics (3PL) network.

RESPONSIBILTIES

Strategic Leadership

• Lead Distribution Engineering for alo operations, from DC to store and customer, including reverse logistics.
• Define and execute the multi-year engineering and automation roadmap for ALO’s global fulfillment and retail logistics network.
• Conduct internal and external benchmarking to identify and deploy best-in-class technologies and performance practices.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and lean methodologies across all distribution and retail backroom operations.
• Partner with retail operations and supply chain leaders to deploy standardized processes that drive scalability and consistency.

Process Engineering & Standards

• Develop, implement, and maintain alo’s global engineering standards for process design, material flow, storage, and handling systems across all distribution and retail facilities.
• Create and own storage capacity standards, slotting methodologies, and space utilization models to optimize efficiency, flexibility, and scalability of the network.
• Establish and continuously refine process maps, SOPs, and time standards to ensure alignment across all DCs and retail backrooms.
• Build and maintain engineering documentation libraries and configuration management practices to ensure process integrity and knowledge continuity.
• Lead process validation, data-driven diagnostics, and root-cause analysis to identify and eliminate operational inefficiencies.
• Collaborate with IT and Operations to integrate process standards into warehouse management systems, labor management tools, and automation controls.
• Ensure that engineering standards inform and guide all new builds, retrofits, and system implementations.
• Serve as the guardian of network-wide engineering discipline, ensuring consistent quality, performance, and adaptability across all global nodes.

Engineering, Design & Innovation

• Oversee material handling system design and optimization, including automation, robotics, and facility layout.
• Coordinate efforts to integrate new technologies and process innovations into alo’s logistics ecosystem.
• Manage large-scale engineering projects including DC retrofits, new facility builds, and automation deployments.
• Drive diagnostic reviews to identify operational constraints and deliver actionable solutions that improve throughput, cost, and service.
• Collaborate with IT and operations to ensure technology alignment with engineering and process goals.

Program & Vendor Management

• Lead capital investment planning for distribution expansion and system modernization.
• Build strategic vendor partnerships for MHE, automation, and engineering consulting.
• Oversee vendor selection, RFP processes, and performance management to ensure cost-effective, high-impact outcomes.
• Partner with 3PL providers to design and implement improvements that enhance cost, delivery, and quality performance.
• Manage engineering programs from concept through delivery, ensuring projects are completed on-time, on-budget, and with defined ROI.

Leadership & People Development

• Lead and develop a multi-location team of engineering managers and staff, fostering a high-performance, innovative, and supportive culture.
• Provide coaching, training, and mentorship to elevate technical and leadership capability across the engineering organization.
• Create a motivational environment that attracts, develops, and retains world-class engineering talent.
• Drive collaboration across internal stakeholders — including DC leadership, retail operations, IT, and planning — to ensure solutions are scalable and owned by the broader business.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering; Master’s or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing material handling, capital projects, or automation in a warehouse/fulfillment environment.
• Proven ability to lead multi-site engineering teams and large-scale facility design and automation initiatives.
• Deep knowledge of process engineering principles, work measurement systems, and engineered labor standards.
• Experience developing and maintaining engineering standards, storage design, and capacity modeling frameworks.
• Skilled in Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management capabilities.
• Excellent communication and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to plan, budget, and execute complex multi-phase engineering programs.
• Experience scaling distribution networks for DTC and omnichannel retail brands.
• Strong experience collaborating with 3PL partners.
• Familiarity with labor management systems and warehouse management software.
• Experience leading operations in a fast-growth, global retail or lifestyle brand.