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What does a logistics engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a logistics engineer do

A logistics engineer is responsible for handling the supply chain management system, ensuring the efficiency of distribution and shipment processes. Logistics engineers strategize on the most effective delivery techniques by conducting data and statistical analysis, identify opportunities and methods, generate more revenue resources, and increase the company's profitability. They also oversee the manufacturing processes, run quality control procedures, and coordinate with suppliers and third-party vendors. A logistics engineer must have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills to resolve distribution discrepancies and other possible delays.

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Logistics engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real logistics engineer resumes:

  • Prepare RFP, review carrier responses, manage vetting process, perform cost analysis and carrier selection.
  • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
  • Research and analysis of aircraft options for safety, maintainability, reliability and scheduling of maintenance procedures.
  • Coordinate direct support for system in theater and provide supplemental training to DOD personnel.
  • Coordinate SAR and other ILS status with NAVSEA and SPAWARSYSCEN representatives, providing inputs to tracking databases.
  • Participate in SE logistics meetings and provide comments and recommendations to ensure complete ILS would be acquire.
  • Author SOW/SOO RFP language to acquire require logistics products and provide source selection expertise during contract selection.
  • Plan, schedule transport on 400 tons of heavy equipment--sustain $12M in high priority DOD projects.
  • Reduce number of touches to the part from supplier to POU to minimize quality hits & costs associate with it.
  • Perform demonstrations on maintenance and maintainability for customers.
  • Perform detailed analysis and parts provisioning task; populate provisioning data base with data elements.
  • Extracted/Update program management information from supply support management plans, and provisioning performance schedules to forecast program management milestone planning documents.
  • Expedite and simplify the quotation process for solar water heating systems by accurately representing solar water heating system performance through MATLAB models
  • Lead forwarder and trucker QBR's to develop KPI's and provide visibility to on-time performance and opportunities for improvement.
  • Develop system to track retrofit actions for vehicle fleet.

Logistics engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 8% of Logistics Engineers are proficient in Maintainability, Life Cycle, and DOD. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer service skills, Communication skills, and Organizational skills.

We break down the percentage of Logistics Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Maintainability, 8%

    Developed and implemented reliability, availability & maintainability (RAM) metrics in tracking mission planning fielding equipment.

  • Life Cycle, 8%

    Monitor shelf life cycles and coordinate replacement activities with engineers and procurement.

  • DOD, 5%

    Planned, scheduled transport on 400 tons of heavy equipment--sustained $12M in high priority DOD projects.

  • Continuous Improvement, 5%

    Completed continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency for all areas of the division business.

  • Maintenance Tasks, 4%

    Updated preventative maintenance tasks and reported results.

  • ILS, 4%

    Reviewed and assessed implementation of Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) elements applicable to mission planning organization.

Most logistics engineers use their skills in "maintainability," "life cycle," and "dod" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential logistics engineer responsibilities here:

Customer service skills. The most essential soft skill for a logistics engineer to carry out their responsibilities is customer service skills. This skill is important for the role because "logisticians must know the needs of their customers in order to coordinate the movement of materials between suppliers and customers." Additionally, a logistics engineer resume shows how their duties depend on customer service skills: "worked in a $70 million per year third-party logistics operation, providing services to dollar general corporation. "

Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform logistics engineer duties is communication skills. Logistics engineers responsibilities require that "logisticians need strong communication skills to collaborate with colleagues and do business with suppliers and customers." Logistics engineers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "provided logistics support for a network communication system to develop management, operational and maintenance documentation. "

Organizational skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of logistics engineers is organizational skills. This skill is critical to many everyday logistics engineer duties, as "logisticians must be able to keep detailed records and simultaneously manage several projects in a fast-paced environment." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "test equipment design for organizational, and afloat maintenance. "

Problem-solving skills. For certain logistics engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a logistics engineer rely on this skill, as "logisticians must handle unforeseen issues, such as delivery problems, and adjust plans as needed to resolve the issues." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what logistics engineers do: "propose logistics solutions for customers. "

Most common logistics engineer skills

The three companies that hire the most logistics engineers are:

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Compare different logistics engineers

Logistics engineer vs. Automated logistics specialist

An automated logistics specialist is responsible for monitoring warehouse operations, ensuring the quality and adequacy of tools and equipment, validating inventory records, processing purchase requests, and managing shipment processes. Automated logistics specialists inspect incoming and outgoing supplies, maintaining the cleanliness and security of the storage, and adhere to the highest safety protocols of handling and categorizing the materials. They must have excellent organization skills, as well as having the ability to multitask to perform administrative and clerical duties to maximize productivity and smooth flow of operations.

The annual salary of automated logistics specialists is $4,399 lower than the average salary of logistics engineers.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both logistics engineer and automated logistics specialist positions are skilled in inventory management, supply support, and shipping receiving.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, logistics engineer responsibilities require skills like "maintainability," "life cycle," "dod," and "continuous improvement." Meanwhile a typical automated logistics specialist has skills in areas such as "maintenance management," "material control," "maintenance data," and "parts data." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Automated logistics specialists tend to reach lower levels of education than logistics engineers. In fact, automated logistics specialists are 10.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Logistics engineer vs. Logistics management specialist

A project scheduler is responsible for organizing and managing project schedules, including meetings, appointments, and other related activities involved in the operational production. Project schedulers coordinate with clients and business partners to inform them of the schedule, respond to their inquiries and concerns, and take note of their availability, especially on cancellations and reschedules. They also perform administrative and clerical tasks as needed, such as writing meeting reports, updating clients' information on the database, operating the scheduling management system software, and evaluating progress reports and project deadlines.

A career as a logistics management specialist brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a logistics engineer. In fact, logistics management specialists salary is $3,189 higher than the salary of logistics engineers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both logistics engineers and logistics management specialists have skills such as "life cycle," "dod," and "ils. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real logistics engineer resumes. While logistics engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "maintainability," "continuous improvement," "maintenance tasks," and "test equipment," logistics management specialists use skills like "logistics systems," "develop recommendations," "conus," and "logistics plans."

On average, logistics management specialists earn a higher salary than logistics engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, logistics management specialists earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $81,845. Whereas logistics engineers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $73,800.logistics management specialists earn similar levels of education than logistics engineers in general. They're 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Logistics engineer vs. Logistics specialist

A logistics specialist is a member of the workforce that handles the logistics procedures in a warehouse or similar establishment. A logistics specialist primarily functions in processing orders, preparing goods, receiving shipments, and even shipping deliveries, ensuring that all transactions are within the allotted schedule. Furthermore, they are in charge of overseeing that all shipments are aligned with the expected quality and quantity, maintaining an accurate record of inventory, producing reports, and coordinating with other members of the team. All while adhering to the policies and standards of the company.

On average, logistics specialists earn lower salaries than logistics engineers, with a $25,156 difference per year.By looking over several logistics engineers and logistics specialists resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "dod," "inventory management," and "management system." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, logistics engineers are more likely to have skills like "maintainability," "life cycle," "continuous improvement," and "maintenance tasks." But a logistics specialist is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "cycle counts," "customer orders," and "purchase orders."

Logistics specialists make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $50,529. On the other hand, logistics engineers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $73,800.logistics specialists typically earn lower educational levels compared to logistics engineers. Specifically, they're 9.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Logistics engineer vs. Engineer

Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.

Engineers average a higher salary than the annual salary of logistics engineers. The difference is about $25,384 per year.While their salaries may vary, logistics engineers and engineers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "provisioning," "test equipment," and "data analysis. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "maintainability," "life cycle," "dod," and "continuous improvement" are skills that commonly show up on logistics engineer resumes. On the other hand, engineers use skills like python, cloud, c++, and c # on their resumes.In general, engineers earn the most working in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $97,672. The highest-paying industry for a logistics engineer is the technology industry.In general, engineers hold similar degree levels compared to logistics engineers. Engineers are 2.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of logistics engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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