Distribution Automation Reliability Engineer

Mcmaster--carr-Supply-Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 185,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

McMaster-Carr, a long-standing e‑commerce leader in Chicago's distribution world, is expanding automation to improve reliability and throughput. You will contribute to material handling, controls, software, analytics, and AI across AS/RS, packaging, conveyor, and sortation systems.

The role emphasizes building standards, solving complex problems, and delivering data-driven improvements in a high‑uptime environment. Excellent communication and project execution are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in warehouse automation and automation systems.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent.
• Experience in fast-paced, high-uptime environments.
• Proven multi-project management experience.
• Strong communication and execution skills.
• Business and financial acumen with technical expertise.

Responsibilities

• Advance engineering projects to improve reliability and performance of automation systems.
• Define standards for new systems and improve existing ones.
• Solve complex technical problems in high-uptime environments.
• Create AI-enabled troubleshooting tools for maintenance.
• Develop data elements and analytics to identify faults and throughput constraints.
• Evaluate trade-offs and recommend practical solutions.
• Support complex system issues beyond standard operations and maintenance.

Skills

Warehouse automation

Project management

Communication

Strategic planning

Roadmapping

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in industrial and systems, mechanical, electrical, computer science engineering or equivalent

Tools

AS/RS

Vision systems

Packaging technologies

Shipping sorters

Palletizing

Job description

Corporate Automation Reliability Engineer

Chicago, IL (Elmhurst)

Who We Are

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.

What You'll Do

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

Cash Compensation

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

Qualifications

• 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, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected group.

This position is not eligible for work authorization sponsorship by McMaster-Carr.

Data We Collect

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