Lead, Agentic AI

Who We Are:

United States Cold Storage owns and operates one of the most complex temperature-controlled logistics networks in North America. Every day, our systems coordinate the storage and movement of food on a national scale across a network of state-of-the-art distribution centers, including multiple highly automated warehouse facilities.

We continue to advance our core warehouse and logistics platforms. Our current focus is on modular, event-driven, API-first and cloud architecture. We continue to enhance reliability and accelerate engineering productivity by strengthening our SRE and AI practices. This is a large investment in innovation to continue to drive operational excellence at our facilities.

If you want to help us accelerate the building of durable systems that operate in the physical world at scale, this is that opportunity.

The Role:

You will lead the function that makes AI-assisted and agentic tooling (e.g., Cursor, Copilot, Claude Code, MCP-based agents) the default way our technology organization delivers and operates. The bar is not “we turned on Copilot.” The bar is measurable, sustained acceleration across the delivery lifecycle as we modernize mission-critical warehouse, logistics, and corporate systems.

Scope spans requirements through operations: architecture/design, software and data engineering, infrastructure and cloud, customer-facing APIs and EDI integrations, and IT operations. Wherever repeatable toil exists, AI is the lever—and you own the strategy, rollout, and measurable outcomes.

This is not an AI product role. We are not adding AI features to the WMS for customers. We are using AI to build, run, and modernize our technology faster—and at higher quality—than we could without it.

You will partner with functional leaders across Technology, report to the VP of Technology, and have multi-year executive sponsorship. Success is measured in delivery velocity, modernization throughput, defect rate, and reliability—not slideware, pilots, or “AI initiatives launched.”

What You’ll Own:

• AI tooling stack — Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, MCP, agent frameworks. Configuration, fit-for-task playbook, and adoption.
• Productivity baseline — DORA, SPACE, PR cycle time, deployment frequency, MTTR, requirements cycle time, integration time-to-launch. Instrument, measure, move.
• Engineering productivity tooling — internal agents and harnesses for code review, test generation, refactoring, ADR drafting, design critique, and the modernization agent for legacy Java.
• Data, infrastructure, and integration productivity — AI-assisted patterns for pipeline authoring, IaC, observability, and EDI/API integration work (partner spec ingestion, mapping automation, test generation).
• IT operations and agentic ops — agents for change-review, incident triage and remediation, deployment validation, capacity actions, helpdesk knowledge, and runbook automation.
• Modernization playbook — the AI-assisted pattern for safely retiring legacy WMS modules while operations continue.
• Standards, evals, and team — secure usage patterns, prompt/context best practices, model evals, training, and a small senior team to multiply your impact.

What We Are Looking For:

Non-negotiable: you have personally rolled out modern AI coding assistants (e.g., Cursor, Copilot, Claude Code) to a real engineering org (at least dozens of engineers). You can speak concretely about enablement, governance, what you measured, what changed, and what didn’t. You have a defensible view on which tools fit which tasks, and you can show your own setup and workflows.

Beyond that:

• Hands-on builder (platform/automation first). You still get your hands dirty—shipping internal tooling, agents, eval harnesses, and workflow automation (and jumping into code when needed), not just directing others.
• Engineering productivity leader with a measurable operating system. You can instrument the SDLC end-to-end (DORA/SPACE, PR cycle time, requirements lead time, incident/ops metrics), run experiments, and move outcomes quarter over quarter.
• Enablement at scale. You know how to drive adoption across dozens+ engineers with training, champions, playbooks, office hours, and support models—so this sticks beyond early enthusiasts.
• Governance and risk instincts. You build safe-by-default patterns (secure context handling, evaluation and quality gates, auditability) and can partner with Security/Compliance without freezing delivery.
• Systems + software depth (credibility with senior engineers). You’re fluent in modern engineering across services/data/cloud (Azure preferred) and can review designs and PRs. Experience in Java, Postgres, event-driven patterns, observability, and reliability is a plus.
• Modernization pragmatism. You’ve modernized legacy systems while the business kept running—using safety rails like incremental cutover, contract testing, schema evolution, and strong operational playbooks (and you can translate that into repeatable patterns for others).
• Executive + engineer communication. You can build a business case, set expectations, and align stakeholders—then turn around and work with engineers in the details.
• Builder mindset. You talk in shipped systems and moved metrics, not initiatives and frameworks.

Technical Environment:

• Azure-first cloud environment (services, identity, networking) with strong infrastructure automation and reliability practices
• AI-assisted and agentic development ecosystem (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot) and best practices for embedding AI into coding, review, testing, refactoring, and design/ADR workflows
• End-to-end engineering productivity measurement (DORA/SPACE, PR cycle time, deployment frequency, MTTR, requirements lead time) with a bias toward experimentation and continuous improvement
• Productivity vs. cost tracking: tool licensing, model/API usage, and cloud consumption—with clear ROI narratives, guardrails, and governance (FinOps mindset)
• Enterprise application and data landscape including Java, React, and Postgres, plus event-driven and service-oriented architectures
• Mission-critical operations: observability, incident/change workflows, deployment validation, and recoverability in systems that run physical operations

Why This Role Is Different:

• You’re not experimenting at the edges—you’re shaping how Technology (and the wider business) adopts AI at scale
• The problems are constrained, real, and complex: legacy systems, modern systems, data platforms, integrations, and physical operations at enterprise scale
• Success is measured in reliability, throughput, and operational improvement—not slideware
• This is long-term platform work with executive sponsorship, not a short-term innovation lab

Compensation & Structure:

• Salary Range: $180,000.00 - $220,000.00/yr.
• Bonus Eligible
• Full-time, Exempt
• Reports to: Vice President of Technology
• Travel less than 10%
• Location: Hybrid (Greater Philadelphia)

Operational Context:

This role is primarily technical and office-based, with occasional interaction in operational environments depending on system needs.

Benefits Include:

If annual hours are attained, these benefits may apply. Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription, Legal Insurance, Pet Discount, Critical Illness, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Long Term Care + Permanent Life Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Short Term Disability Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, Supplemental Disability Insurance, Basic Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Supplemental Life Insurance, Supplemental Spouse Life Insurance, Child Life Insurance, Loan Solution, Health Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Flexible Spending Account, Telemedicine, Virtual Primary Care, Prescription Savings Plan, Prescription Specialty Copay Assistance Program, Weight Management Program, Chronic Condition Management, Care Navigator Program, 24/7 Nurse Line, Expert Medical Opinion, Precious Additions Maternity Program, Health Advocacy, Employee Assistance Program, Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Digital Physical Therapy, Behavioral and Mental Health Platforms, Auto and home discount program, Secure Travel Protection, Discount Programs, 401(k) plan, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off, Referral program & Commuter Benefit (NJ ONLY).

Physical & Operational Context:

May require physical effort associated with using the computer to access information, or occasional standing, walking, lifting needed to carry out everyday activities. Effective communication, vision, and hearing are essential for safety and productivity. Operate scanners, tablets, radios, phones, computers, and other essential equipment as required. Additional work hours may be requested by management to help manage employee production, projects, and/or special events. Engage in frequent personal interaction and communication. Attend in-person meetings and/or training on a regular basis. Possess strong arithmetic and reading skills. Follow verbal instructions, written instructions, and company policies. Work independently and coordinate with others. Fast-paced environment, managing stress, and meeting productivity standards.

Additional Information:

Job functions may vary based on the area of operation. This description outlines the most common tasks required for the job. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties. This job description may not encompass all tasks necessary to complete the role.