Lead, Freight Network Design & Analytics

A world-class product means nothing if it can’t reach customers efficiently and reliably. As the Lead of freight Network Design & Analytics at Ultrahuman, you will architect the highways and byways that our products travel from our factories to the hands of users around the globe. This role is equal parts designer and analyst: you’ll be creating the blueprint for our logistics network (distribution centers, shipping routes, delivery methods) and diving into data to continually refine that network. In true first-principles fashion, you won’t settle for “how it’s usually done” in logistics. Instead, you’ll innovate to ensure speed, cost-effectiveness, and resiliency, much like how Amazon engineered its own logistics empire to guarantee Prime deliveries. Your work will directly impact customer satisfaction (fast, on-time deliveries), operational cost control, and Ultrahuman’s ability to scale internationally with confidence.

Responsibilities:

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  Network Design: Develop and continuously refine Ultrahuman’s global freight and distribution network. Decide on the optimal number and location of warehouses/fulfillment centers, considering factors like customer geography, shipping costs, and delivery speed. Design route plans for moving products from the UltraFactory and other manufacturing sites to these centers, and then onward to end customers or retail partners. Evaluate different transport modes (air, sea, ground) and carriers for each leg of the journey, using a data-driven approach.
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  Analytics & Optimization: Build analytical models and simulations for our logistics operations. For example, create models to determine the trade-offs between shipping by air vs. sea for international lanes, or between regional distribution vs. direct shipping. Use these models to optimize cost and transit times. Analyze historical shipping data to identify pain points (like customs delays, high damage rates on a route, or cost spikes) and propose solutions (different route, better packaging for that route, alternate carriers, etc.).
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  Carrier Management: Lead relationships with global and regional logistics partners (couriers, freight forwarders, 3PLs). Negotiate contracts and service level agreements that guarantee performance (fast transit, low damage, tracking visibility) at competitive costs. Regularly review carrier performance data and hold partners accountable, while also exploring new partnerships or technologies (like emerging last-mile delivery startups or advanced tracking systems) that could enhance our network.
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  Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with the supply chain planning team to align inventory placement with network design (e.g., how much stock to keep in each warehouse). Coordinate with the customer support team regarding shipping issues – if there are recurring delivery problems in a certain region, your analytics should catch it and you’d work on a fix. Communicate your plans and changes to all stakeholders, explaining how a network change will improve outcomes.
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  Scalability & Resilience: Design the network with growth and risk in mind. Plan for peak volumes (such as holiday season or a big product launch) so that our logistics can handle surges. Establish contingency plans for common risks – alternative routes during weather disruptions, backup carriers if one fails, multi-sourcing critical lanes. Keep an eye on geopolitical changes or trade policies that might affect freight and proactively adapt the network.
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  Reverse logistics and full lifecycle management of the product.

Requirements

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, or a related field. Strong foundation in logistics and quantitative analysis.
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  Experience: 5+ years in logistics network design, supply chain analytics, or transportation management roles. Experience with a global e-commerce or consumer electronics company’s logistics is a huge plus. You should have been involved in decisions about warehouse locations, shipping modes, or carrier management.
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  Analytical Skills: Expertise in data analysis and modeling. Proficiency in Excel is a must; experience with more advanced tools like SQL, Python (pandas, SciPy), or specialized supply chain software (optimization solvers, simulation tools like Arena or AnyLogic) is highly desirable. Ability to translate complex data outputs into actionable recommendations.
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  Logistics Knowledge: Deep understanding of how international shipping works: familiarity with incoterms, customs clearance, freight cost structures (dimensional weight, container rates), and the pros/cons of various shipping methods. Knowledge of regional logistics nuances (e.g., EU vs US shipping differences, last-mile challenges in APAC, etc.).
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  Project Management: Strong project management skills to implement network changes. This could include setting up a new warehouse (coordinating IT, stocking, hiring, etc.), onboarding a new carrier, or rolling out a new tracking system. Organized and capable of managing multiple initiatives simultaneously.

Preferred Experience:

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  Scale and Volume: Experience designing a network that handled a large volume of shipments (hundreds of thousands to millions of units per year) across multiple regions. Understanding how to optimize at scale, and perhaps experience with automation in distribution centers.
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  Technology-Driven: Exposure to or implementation of advanced logistics tech – for instance, using machine learning to predict delays, route optimization algorithms, or working with APIs for real-time tracking and dynamic routing.
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  First-Principles Successes: Concrete examples where you rethought a logistics problem unconventionally. Maybe you challenged the idea of a central warehouse and introduced regional micro-fulfillment, or you negotiated a creative deal with a carrier that gave better flexibility. Show how your innovative thinking led to better outcomes.