About Symbotic
Symbotic Inc. is an American robotics warehouse automation company based in Wilmington, Massachusetts.
Symbotic builds and operates automated warehouse systems for clients in the United States and Canada, using artificial intelligence in its software. Symbotic also designs hardware solutions for palletizing, depalletizing, and automated storage and retrieval systems.
What I do at Symbotic
Since July 2024, I have worked as a mechanical engineer on the cell hardware team. This team is responsible for all of the hardware related to the interface systems between the cargo trucks and the storage and retrieval system. We design and maintain various interface options including but not limited to automated depalletizing and automated palletizing for automated inbounding and out-bounding of products in regional warehouses. As a part of this role I perform a variety of tasks that I have listed below:
Develop Improvements for Future System Releases
Symbotic's core technologies have been through various product releases as technology has improved and feedback has been provided from installers and operators. I have worked to develop and implement these improvements once they have received managerial approval. Some of the projects I have worked on are making generic conveyors to improve supplier compatibility and revamping fencing assemblies for new interlocks and mounting solutions. I work to develop these ideas in SolidWorks across all impacted assemblies and then implement these changes using ECNs in Symbotic's PLM system.
Sustain Systems at both "In Production" and "In Installation" Phases
Symbotic's core cell technologies are used across the US at a variety of customer sites. As with all mechanical systems, issues can arise that are only noticed once the system is being installed on site or actively in operation. One of my core job functions is responding to issues reported by installers and operators on Jira. I have been assigned a variety of issues such as hole misalignments, fasteners changes, and updating assemblies to reduce DoF's. I work to verify that the issue is due to design errors, fix the issues in PDM, implement my changes into PLM and write technical bulletins to report my changes to production and provide work instructions for sites.
Development of New Cell Technologies
While Symbotic has core cell technologies, it also is working to develop new technologies to include more variety to their catalogue allowing it to fit the specific needs of customers. On these projects, I have been tasked with assisting in the design of specific aspects of these cells such as cable tray routing, electrical panel stand design and vision system camera placement. Additionally, I have also worked with third party design firms in an administrative capacity, assisting them in using the Symbotic PLM and PDM systems and well as ensuring conformity to Symbotic design standards.
Collaborate with Cross Functional Teams
As an engineer that regularly interacts with the document control processes and product management systems at Symbotic, I am actively collaborating with the document control, PDM, and PLM transformation teams to improve various processes and technologies. I have raised issues that I have experienced while performing my primary functions and suggested solutions that have been implemented across Symbotic. Currently, I am assisting as an engineering user in Symbotic's move to a new PDM system where I am providing feedback for the transition team and explaining how they can make improvement to drastically reduce documentation overhead.