Senior Warehouse Controls Engineer - PLC & Automation

Abbott (abbottcareers2 board); North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott Distribution Center (North Chicago), IL is seeking a Warehouse PLC / Controls Engineer to maintain, troubleshoot, and improve automated control systems in a warehouse environment, focusing on uptime for conveyors, sortation, and material handling.

You will diagnose PLC/HMI issues, provide real-time support to operations, develop as-built documentation, and lead preventive maintenance and upgrades in collaboration with vendors and engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Controls Engineering or equivalent.
• 4–7+ years of PLC programming and troubleshooting, preferably Allen-Bradley.
• FDA-regulated manufacturing or similar experience.
• Experience with validation or commissioning documentation.
• Knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Profibus).

Responsibilities

• Diagnose and resolve PLC, HMI, and control system issues impacting warehouse operations.
• Provide real-time support to operations teams to minimize downtime.
• Analyze system faults, alarms, and logs to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Support troubleshooting of conveyors, sorters, pick-by-light and robotics systems.

Skills

PLC programming

Troubleshooting

HMI

Root-cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Controls Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

EtherNet/IP/Profibus

Job description

Abbott Distribution Center (North Chicago), IL is seeking a Warehouse PLC / Controls Engineer to maintain, troubleshoot, and improve automated control systems in a warehouse environment, focusing on uptime for conveyors, sortation, and material handling.

You will diagnose PLC/HMI issues, provide real-time support to operations, develop as-built documentation, and lead preventive maintenance and upgrades in collaboration with vendors and engineering teams.