Automation Reliability Engineer - Distribution Ops

McMaster-Carr; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 185,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship programs

Employee resource groups

Comprehensive medical/dental/vision

Job summary

McMaster-Carr is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to advance distribution automation. You will drive standards for AS/RS, conveyors, sortation, and packaging technology, using data to improve throughput and uptime.

You will collaborate with controls, software, and analytics to solve complex operational challenges. Join the Central Engineering team to design, specify, and implement high‑uptime automation in a fast-paced environment, while shaping future systems and processes for better

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional experience in warehouse automation, including AS/RS, automated receiving, packaging tech, sorting, or palletizing.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent.
• Knowledge of hardware, controls, software, analytics, and AI disciplines is preferred.
• Experience in a fast-paced, high uptime, operational environment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and advanced project execution skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify recurring faults, downtime patterns, and flow constraints using root-cause analysis and data.
• Improve automated packaging by standardizing alignment, controls, and software parameters.
• Define how automated equipment responds to faults with controls and software teams.
• Enhance user experience in goods-to-person picking from totes to cartons.
• Design/optimize material flow connecting AS/RS, picking, packing, workstations, and sortation.
• Improve automated receiving through vision, routing, and put-away.
• Support equipment commissioning, startup, throughput validation, and ramp-up.
• Create data elements and analytics to identify faults and improve OEE; explore AI-enabled troubleshooting.

Skills

Warehouse automation

AS/RS systems

Controls & software

Data analytics

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems / mechanical / electrical / CS engineering

Tools

Vision systems

Conveyors

Robotics

Job description

McMaster-Carr is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to advance distribution automation. You will drive standards for AS/RS, conveyors, sortation, and packaging technology, using data to improve throughput and uptime.

You will collaborate with controls, software, and analytics to solve complex operational challenges. Join the Central Engineering team to design, specify, and implement high‑uptime automation in a fast-paced environment, while shaping future systems and processes for better