Sharath Kumar Kanniyappan, 34
Sr. Controls Engineering Supervisor
Honeywell Intelligrated
Mason, Ohio, United States
What Makes Sharath an Engineering Leader
As a global leader for the Warehouse Automation Controls Engineering team at Honeywell, Sharath has successfully driven several large-scale, multimillion-dollar projects to completion. His strong technical skills and deep understanding of complex code have enabled him to define programming standards, tools, and strategies for his team.
With extensive systems experience, he has solved critical production issues impacting live customer sites and collaborates with clients on project planning and system design during both development and implementation phases.
Achievements, Advancements & Career-related Industry Contributions
Sharath began his career with Honeywell in 2015 after earning a master’s degree in electrical engineering. Over the past decade in the warehouse automation field, he has developed advanced systems expertise that has helped solve production challenges for some of the company’s largest clients.
Starting as a controls engineer, he advanced into a leadership role where he could positively influence operations and deliver projects at scale. He led the digital transformation of the project engineering team by introducing emulation tools to test programs and systems as digital twins, adopting Industry 4.0 principles, and improving deliverable quality.
His contributions to system analytics at customer sites have bridged gaps between maintenance failures and data interpretation, creating measurable value for clients. With strong project management skills, he has also streamlined system commissioning processes and procedures for his team.
Non-work-related Activities & Hobbies
Sharath is an avid sports enthusiast who enjoys playing soccer, cricket, and ping-pong. When he is not spending time with his two-year-old daughter, he unwinds by reading novels—especially fiction and thrillers—which he often carries during travel.
Interesting Details
Sharath is an active member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the International Society of Automation (ISA), keeping himself informed about the latest developments in automation and engineering.
Outside of work, he continues to practice the whistle flute, an instrument he first learned as part of his school’s marching band.
Why Sharath Chose This Career
Sharath’s inspiration to become an automation engineer came from his father, a retired process plant maintenance manager. Growing up, he often overheard his father’s plant troubleshooting calls at home, sparking his curiosity about automation.
Through his engineering coursework and professional experiences, that curiosity grew into a passion. As he began resolving real-time customer issues, Sharath realized how rewarding this career path could be—and his commitment to automation engineering has only deepened since.
