DC Industrial Systems Engineer

Takealot Group, a prominent force in South Africa's e-commerce landscape, is seeking a dedicated and skilled Industrial Systems Engineer to bolster its Supply Chain operations. This role is based at their KwaZulu-Natal distribution centre (DC) and forms a crucial part of a rapidly expanding business that values innovation, integrity, and a proactive approach to challenges. If you are a driven individual looking to contribute to building a significant operation and thrive in a dynamic environment, this opportunity might be for you.

About the Role

This position is centered around the administration and support of the Oracle Warehouse Management System (WMS) within a busy distribution centre. You will be the primary point of contact for day-to-day system administration tasks, ensuring smooth operations. This includes managing user accounts, access levels, and location data within the WMS. A key aspect of the role involves providing essential Level 1 support to the DC operations team, troubleshooting integration issues between the WMS and the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and acting as a liaison between the DC operations, the WMS vendor (Oracle) for issue logging and resolution. You will also be responsible for analysing trends in system issues and reporting these findings to the WMS vendor.

Your responsibilities will encompass a broad spectrum of system maintenance, support, and development. You will be involved in:

• Performing regular audits of both systems and operational processes to identify areas for improvement.
• Assisting with crucial tasks such as stock synchronisation, operating system updates, patch management, and configuration changes.
• Managing user account information, including adding, removing, and updating details, as well as resetting passwords.
• Providing timely technical assistance and answering queries from system users.
• Troubleshooting and meticulously recording all reported system problems.
• Ensuring that the full operational flow across all departments is aligned with system processes.
• Collaborating with the IT department to guarantee the network infrastructure is consistently operational.
• Supporting the En-log team in applying system upgrades and resolving system errors.
• Providing Quality Control (QC) support, particularly for the integration of Dimensions and operational assistance.
• Assisting in troubleshooting the Warehouse Control System (WCS) and escalating issues to relevant stakeholders.
• Liaising with operational systems and service providers as directed by management.
• Ensuring Quality Assurance (QA) through testing and validation of system changes.
• Developing a deep technical understanding of the WMS and internal DC processes.
• Maintaining technical training schedules to support operational Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Addressing onsite WMS queries and providing technical support.
• Assisting in the organisation and presentation of data for operational dashboards.
• Guiding operations on best system practices and facilitating change management initiatives.
• Analysing system logs to identify and report potential issues across all operational systems.
• Developing reports and dashboards from the WMS reporting database for management teams.
• Testing and overseeing the rollout of proposed new functionalities and bi-annual Oracle upgrades.

What They're Looking For

To be successful in this role, candidates should possess a minimum of three years of relevant experience within distribution centre operations. Prior experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) such as Logfire (Oracle), Manhattan, Red Prairie, SAP, or Highjump is highly desirable. While not strictly mandatory, a degree in Information Systems, Industrial Engineering, B.Comm Logistics, or a similar field would be advantageous.

You should demonstrate a high level of proficiency with MS Office packages and possess a comprehensive understanding of Warehouse Control Systems (WCS), including their application and troubleshooting. A solutions-oriented, can-do attitude is essential, coupled with strong self-motivation and meticulous attention to detail. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are critical for effective liaison with various stakeholders. Previous experience in mini project management, a comfort with change, and the ability to be an excellent team player are also key attributes. Finally, you must be adaptable and eager to learn and master new systems.

This role offers the chance to work within a leading South African e-commerce company experiencing significant growth. Industrial Engineers specialising in WMS support and operations often find good career progression within large logistics and retail organisations. While remuneration is described as a "market-related, Total Remuneration Package," such roles in South Africa typically involve competitive salaries, often augmented by benefits, depending on experience and the complexity of the systems managed. Takealot Group, as an equal opportunity employer, actively encourages applications from individuals representing previously disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities.

• Minimum 3 years relevant experience within DC operations
• Previous experience with WMS systems such as Logfire(Oracle), Manhattan, Red Prairie, SAP, Highjump or similar
• Information Systems, Industrial Engineering, B.Comm Logistics or similar degree preferred
• High level of proficiency with MS Office packages
• Full understanding of a WCS, the application, troubleshoot, problems
• Solutions-oriented, can-do attitude; self-motivated
• Attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken
• Previous experience in mini project management
• Comfortable with change and excellent team player
• Comfortable with learning and adapting to new systems