WMS Application Engineer

About Wakefern

Wakefern Food Corp. is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and supports its co-operative members' retail operations, trading under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, and Morton Williams banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Employing an innovative approach to wholesale business services, Wakefern focuses on helping the independent retailer compete in a big business world. Providing the tools entrepreneurs need to stay a step ahead of the competition, Wakefern’s co-operative members benefit from the company’s extensive portfolio of services, including innovative technology, private label development, and best-in-class procurement practices.

Role Overview:

We are seeking a hands-on application engineer with experience in warehouse management and supply chain systems. This role will translate operational business problems into reliable, scalable applications and integrations using Node.js, Java, Python, and related technologies. The engineer will independently lead work from discovery and solution design through development, testing, deployment, support, and continuous improvement. Applied AI will be a significant part of the role, including evaluating use cases, building AI-enabled capabilities, automating workflows, and validating outputs for operational use.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with warehouse, distribution, and supply chain teams to understand operational challenges and translate them into technical requirements and solution designs.
• Design, develop, test, deploy, and support applications, services, APIs, integrations, and automation using Node.js, Java, Python, SQL, and appropriate cloud technologies.
• Own technical solutions through the full software development lifecycle, including architecture, coding, code review, testing, release readiness, documentation, monitoring, and production support.
• Build and enhance integrations among WMS, ERP, order management, transportation, inventory, automation, and other supply chain platforms.
• Identify manual steps, bottlenecks, recurring defects, and performance constraints; implement solutions that improve throughput, accuracy, reliability, and maintainability.
• Evaluate and apply AI capabilities to practical business problems, such as exception analysis, operational decision support, workflow automation, knowledge retrieval, and developer productivity.
• Establish appropriate controls for AI-enabled solutions, including data quality, output validation, security, privacy, traceability, and human review.
• Troubleshoot complex production issues across applications, interfaces, databases, and operational workflows; perform root-cause analysis and implement durable fixes.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, infrastructure, security, vendors, and business stakeholders while remaining comfortable driving assignments independently.
• Create clear technical documentation, including architecture decisions, interface specifications, support procedures, test evidence, and implementation plans.

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience designing, developing, implementing, or supporting business-critical applications in warehouse, distribution, logistics, inventory, or broader supply chain environments.
• Hands-on software development experience with at least two of the following: Node.js/JavaScript or TypeScript, Java, and Python.
• Strong SQL and relational database skills, including data analysis, query optimization, data modeling, and production troubleshooting.
• Experience designing or consuming REST APIs, event-driven interfaces, file-based integrations, and batch or real-time processing patterns.
• Working knowledge of WMS processes such as receiving, putaway, replenishment, inventory control, picking, packing, shipping, labor, and exception management.
• Practical understanding of AI concepts and tools, including generative AI, prompt design, retrieval-based solutions, model limitations, output evaluation, and responsible use.
• Demonstrated ability to decompose ambiguous business problems, evaluate alternatives, make sound technical decisions, and deliver maintainable solutions with limited oversight.
• Strong analytical, debugging, and root-cause analysis skills across application, integration, and data layers.
• Self-starter who takes ownership, learns unfamiliar technologies and business processes quickly, communicates clearly, and collaborates effectively across technical and operational teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with DB2 or other enterprise database platforms used in high-volume operational environments.
• Experience modernizing legacy applications or integrating technologies such as JCL, flat files, copybooks, COBOL, SUPRA, or mainframe workflows.
• Experience with cloud platforms, containerized services, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, observability, or DevOps practices.
• Hands-on experience building AI-enabled applications, retrieval-based solutions, intelligent automation, or operational decision-support tools.
• Experience integrating WMS with ERP, order management, transportation, inventory, material-handling automation, or other supply chain platforms.

Wakefern is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and professional development of our Associates. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with company match & annual company contribution, paid time off, holidays, and parental leave. Associates also enjoy access to wellness and family support programs, fitness reimbursement, educational and training opportunities through our corporate university, and a collaborative, team-oriented work environment. Many of these benefits are fully or partially funded by the company, with some subject to eligibility requirements.