Senior Industrial Engineer

About the position

About ThredUp

ThredUp is transforming resale with technology and a mission to inspire the world to think secondhand first. By making it easy to buy and sell secondhand, ThredUp has become one of the world's largest online resale platforms for apparel, shoes and accessories. Sellers love ThredUp because we make it easy to clean out their closets and unlock value for themselves or for the charity of their choice while doing good for the planet. Buyers love shopping value, premium and luxury brands all in one place, at up to 90% off estimated retail price. Our proprietary operating platform is the foundation for our managed marketplace and consists of distributed processing infrastructure, proprietary software and systems and data science expertise. With ThredUp’s Resale-as-a-Service, some of the world's leading brands and retailers are leveraging our platform to deliver customizable, scalable resale experiences to their customers. ThredUp has processed over 172 million unique secondhand items from 55,000 brands across 100 categories. By extending the life cycle of clothing, ThredUp is changing the way consumers shop and ushering in a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.

Recognized on TIME’s Best Inventions 2024, TIME's Most Influential Companies of 2023,  Digiday's WorkLife 50 2023, TIME's Best Inventions of 2022, and Lattice's People Success Awards 2022.

How You Will Make An Impact:

At ThredUp, we are at the forefront of processing unique secondhand clothing at unparalleled volumes and are seeking a Senior Industrial Engineer  to lead large-scale automation and process improvement programs.

As a Senior Industrial Engineer at ThredUp, you will drive cross-functional initiatives that optimize system performance and operational design. In this hands-on leadership role, you’ll set technical direction, mentor other engineers, and work closely with vendors and internal stakeholders to deliver scalable solutions that improve efficiency, throughput, and reliability across our fulfillment network.

This role offers the opportunity to visit ThredUp facilities in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Texas, and Oakland, and to attend supplier sites and trade shows. The position is based on-site in Lancaster, TX.

In This Role You’ll Get To:

• Lead large-scale, complex automation and process improvement programs across ThredUp’s distribution network, from concept through execution.

• Apply advanced industrial engineering expertise to evaluate diverse operational challenges and develop innovative, scalable solutions.

• Own program management responsibilities including budget oversight, resource planning, vendor partnerships, and cross-functional alignment.

• Anticipate risks and proactively establish processes, standards, and guardrails to ensure successful execution and sustainable outcomes.

• Collaborate with leaders across Operations, Maintenance, Software, Supply Chain, and Finance to align engineering priorities with business objectives.

• Influence and guide the development of policies, standards, and best practices that shape how engineering projects are executed across the network.

• Represent the Automation and Industrial Engineering function in senior-level discussions, presenting recommendations that balance urgency with long-term vision.

• Mentor, coach, and provide technical leadership to junior and mid-level engineers, building team capability and addressing knowledge gaps.

• Drive a culture of innovation by encouraging new ideas, soliciting input, and setting ambitious goals for project impact and results.

• Act as a subject-matter expert, frequently advising stakeholders on complex matters and providing creative solutions that advance company objectives.

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related Engineering field.

• Minimum 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years with a Master’s degree; or 3 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience.

• Advanced expertise in industrial engineering methodologies (simulation modeling, network optimization, advanced statistical analysis).

• Proven track record leading large-scale automation or material handling programs with significant budget responsibility.

• Ability to connect engineering solutions with business strategy and financial outcomes.

• Skilled in vendor selection, contract negotiation, and long-term vendor relationship management.

• Experience establishing policies, standards, and cross-functional frameworks.

• Thinks big-picture, sets ambitious goals, and aligns teams to achieve them.

• Strong ability to anticipate risks, prevent escalations, and guide others through complex challenges.

• Inspires and motivates teams by providing clarity of priorities, encouraging innovation, and modeling accountability.

• Adaptable communicator who can influence at all levels, from frontline teams to senior leadership and external partners.

• Uses mistakes as opportunities for learning and continuous improvement, both personally and organizationally.

• Recognized as a trusted advisor who brings insight, creativity, and foresight to decision-making.

• Comfortable in a hands-on environment (walking, standing, bending, light lifting).

• Ability to travel up to 25% or more, depending on business needs.

• If you don’t like spending your days in a cubicle, this is the perfect position for you. As part of the Automation Team you will be expected to work in dynamic environments, bend down, reach overhead, lift/carry up to 30lbs and push/pull up to 150lbs

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

What We Offer:

• 4-day work week, with Fridays off

• Hybrid work environment: 3 days in the office and 1 day remote each week

• Competitive salary (we leverage market data)

• Many ThredUp employees also have the opportunity to own shares of ThredUp stock and are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards

• Employee stock purchase plan

• Flexible PTO (take the time you need) + 13 company holidays

• Paid Sabbatical after 3 years of full time employment

• Generous paid parental leave for new mothers and fathers

• Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life and disability insurance offered

• We live by our Core Values of Transparency, SpeakingUP, Thinking Big, Infinite Learning, Influencing Outcomes & Seeking the Truth

We believe diversity, inclusion and belonging is key for our team

At ThredUp, our mission has been built on extending the lives of millions of unique clothing items. Much like our inventory, we are proud to have fostered a workplace that is one-of-a-kind. As a company focused on diversity, inclusion and belonging, we are committed to ensuring our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work every day. A unique perspective is critical to solving complex problems and inspiring a new generation to think secondhand first. Be you.

If you are a candidate with a disability and have a reasonable accommodation request for the job application process, please email disabilitysupport@ThredUp.com the specific details of your disability related accommodation request. This email address is reserved for candidates with disabilities only. General application inquiries will not receive a response.

Place of work