Corporate Automation Reliability Engineer

Chicago, IL (Elmhurst)

McMaster-Carr is an innovative e-commerce company helping customers build and repair anything because we offer everything. We'vethrived for more than 120 years through a relentless focus on customer experience, adaptability, and world-class operations. Curious, exceptional people are at the center of our evolution, turning new challenges and disruptive technologies into opportunities to learn, grow, and do work that makes customers' lives better.

It is an exciting time at McMaster-Carr as we expand the use of automation in our distribution operations. Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), right-sized packaging technology, and sortation equipment are just some of the technologies that are in the scope of this role.

We are hiring to advance engineering projects that drive improvements in the reliability and performance of the automation system. Projects span material handling design, controls, software, analytics, process design and AI. You will help establish standards for new systems, improve systems already in operation, and solve complex technical problems in a high-up-time environment.

Make an impact and grow your engineering skills through work such as:

• Improving automated packaging technology by creating standards for physical alignment, controls configurations, and software parameters.
• Defining software behavior for automation based on control faults, warnings, and information
• Enhancing the user experience of picking from totes to cartons in a goods-to-person
• Designing or improving the material flow that connects automated storage and retrieval, picking, packing, workstations, sortation, and downstream processes.
• Improving automated receiving through vision, identification, routing, induction, or put‑away
• Applying conveyor, sortation, mobile‑robotics, or related material‑handling technologies to improve system reliability and throughput.
• Building an AI-enabled troubleshooting tool for maintenance technicians responding to automation-equipment
• Creating data elements and analytics that identify automation faults, downtime, throughput constraints, and opportunities for improvement.
• Evaluating alternatives, explaining technical and operational trade‑offs, and recommending practical
• Supporting complex system issues that extend beyond established operating and maintenance

Total cash compensation is generally around $185,000 to $230,000 and includes profit sharing based on company performance.

• 2+ years of professional experience in warehouse automation, including experience with AS/RS, automated receiving using vision systems, packaging technologies, shipping sorters, or palletizing
• Bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems, mechanical, electrical, computer science engineering or equivalent
• Knowledge of hardware, controls, software, process design, analytics, and AI disciplines is preferred
• Experience in a fast-paced, high uptime, operational environment
• Proven experience managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent communication skills and advanced project execution skills
• Strong business and financial acumen paired with domain and technical expertise
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and roadmap, plan, and execute
• Commitment to personal, professional, and team growth

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees a workplace with reasonable accommodations and free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. At McMaster-Carr, we do not make employment decisions based on age, ethnicity, citizenship status, military status, gender identity and expression, race, religion, disability status,…