The role 

We are looking for an experienced Transportation Logistics Specialist to manage the full scope of IT hardware logistics — including racks, servers, and other data center equipment. The role covers domestic US transport between our warehouses and data center sites, inbound international freight from our suppliers in Taiwan and other origins into the US, and outbound shipments from the US as required. You will also be responsible for RMA/RMS shipments and ensuring smooth, timely delivery of hardware across all lanes. This is a hands-on, operationally focused role requiring strong attention to detail, excellent vendor management skills, and the ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, global environment.

Key Responsibilities

Logistics Operations

• Manage end-to-end transport of IT hardware — rack systems, servers, and other data center equipment — across all lanes: domestic US moves, inbound international shipments (primarily from Taiwan-based suppliers), and outbound from the US as required.
• Coordinate inbound freight scheduling for both domestic and international shipments, including ocean and air freight from Taiwan and other origins, managing carrier selection and delivery execution to ensure on-time, damage-free arrival.
• Handle all RMA and RMS shipments, including coordination with vendors, carriers, and internal teams to ensure accurate and timely processing.
• Manage equipment transfers between company warehouses and data center facilities, optimizing routes and minimizing handling risk.
• Maintain full visibility over active shipments and proactively resolve transit issues, delays, or exceptions.
• Develop contingency plans and alternative routing strategies to ensure business continuity.
• Manage time-critical air freight shipments where required, including carrier selection, booking, and end-to-end tracking to ensure expedited delivery of hardware.

Coordination & Documentation

• Coordinate closely with data center operations teams to support staging, buffering, and just-in-time hardware deployment.
• Maintain accurate in-transit inventory records and ensure proper chain-of-custody documentation for all shipments.
• Manage all shipment-related documentation in relevant systems (Jira, TMS, or equivalent), ensuring records are complete, accurate, and audit-ready.
• Process and reconcile logistics invoices; manage payments for transportation operations, including ZIP payments to the appropriate vendors and partners.
• Work with the security team to establish and maintain secure shipment protocols and ensure compliance with physical security requirements.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure all shipments comply with applicable regulations — including DOT requirements for domestic moves and US import/export regulations, customs clearance processes, and trade compliance requirements for international freight.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation for all logistics activities, supporting internal (SOX) and external compliance requirements.
• Establish and enforce SLAs and KPIs with freight carriers and 3PL partners; drive accountability through regular performance reviews.
• Identify and escalate compliance gaps or process deviations, implementing corrective actions as needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with hardware engineering, procurement, finance, and data center operations to align logistics execution with deployment timelines and business priorities.
• Collaborate with OEM suppliers (e.g., Giga, ASUS), primarily based in Taiwan, to coordinate international shipping windows, batch tracking, customs documentation, and inbound scheduling into US facilities.
• Act as the primary escalation point for US transport-related issues across internal teams and external partners.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives through KPI tracking, root cause analysis, and process standardization.

Planning & Cost Management

• Forecast transportation demand based on data center expansion plans, hardware deployment schedules, and capacity needs.
• Identify cost optimization opportunities through carrier consolidation, routing improvements, and smarter scheduling.
• Track and report on logistics costs, flagging variances and recommending corrective actions.
• Support data-driven decision-making through regular reporting, dashboards, and operational analytics.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in transportation, freight, or logistics management — ideally within technology, data center, or hardware supply chain environments.
• Proven experience managing both domestic and international freight operations, including LTL/FTL, ocean freight, and air freight shipments, carrier and forwarder relationships, and 3PL coordination.
• Hands-on experience with RMA/RMS shipment processes and reverse logistics flows.
• Familiarity with TMS platforms, Jira, or similar systems used for shipment tracking and documentation.
• Strong understanding of US domestic carrier regulations, DOT requirements, and international freight compliance including customs clearance and import/export procedures.
• Experience managing large, heavy, or high-value freight (server racks, IT infrastructure equipment) is strongly preferred.
• Excellent organisational and documentation skills with a high standard for accuracy and completeness.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills; ability to work cross-functionally across technical and non-technical teams.
• Self-starter mindset with the ability to operate independently in a remote environment.
• Based in the United States; East Coast or Midwest location required (ET/CT time zones), to support overlap with European business hours.

Nice to Have

• Experience in a hyperscaler, cloud provider, or large-scale data center build-out environment.
• Experience with Asia-Pacific supply chains, particularly Taiwan-to-US freight lanes, including familiarity with customs brokerage, import duties, and trade compliance.
• Background in supply chain analytics, reporting, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with physical security protocols for high-value hardware shipments.