Sr. Automation and Controls Engineer

Renew Cannabis Co.; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401K match

FSA/HSA

LTD/STD

Life insurance

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Bonus programs

Stock options

Employee discounts

Job summary

Cresco Labs is seeking an Automation & Controls Engineer to design, implement, and support automation and control systems across manufacturing and packaging areas. The role focuses on reliability, throughput, and data visibility while ensuring regulatory compliance.

You will drive automation initiatives, standardize control architectures across sites, and collaborate with Operations and Quality teams to meet performance targets, with significant travel across the U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years experience in industrial automation.
• Hands-on PLC programming experience.
• Experience with HMI/SCADA systems.
• Knowledge of industrial protocols.
• Strong troubleshooting and RCA skills.
• Experience with packaging systems.
• Experience reviewing electrical/mechanical schematics.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and maintain PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.
• Develop control systems for extraction and processing equipment.
• Lead integration of new equipment into site-wide control architectures.
• Drive standardization of controls platforms across facilities.
• Support validation and commissioning activities (IQ/OQ/PQ).
• Develop and maintain production data collection and dashboards.
• Travel to sites across the U.S. up to 50%+.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

Troubleshooting

Industrial protocols

Packaging systems

Electrical schematics

MS Office

CAD modeling

GMP knowledge

Communication

Education

BSc Electrical Eng

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Rockwell Automation

FactoryTalk

Ignition

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

EtherNet/IP

Modbus

OPC

Job description

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Cresco Labs is one of the largest public, vertically integrated, multistate operators in the cannabis industry. Our portfolio of in-house cultivated and manufactured brands features some of the highest quality, most awarded and most popular cannabis products in America. With dozens of locations nationwide, our owned and operated Sunnyside® dispensaries provide a welcoming, positive, judgement-free place to shop for anyone at any point on their cannabis journey. Founded in 2013, Cresco Labs’ mission is to normalize and professionalize cannabis through our passionate employees. As stewards of the cannabis industry, our teams are constantly focused on supporting the needs of our fellow colleagues, consumers, customers, and communities alike. With a focus on Social Equity and Educational Development, our SEEDTM initiative ensures that our company reflects the communities in which we serve, ensuring equal opportunity for all to have the knowledge and resources to work in and own businesses in cannabis. At Cresco Labs, we aim to revolutionize and lead the nation’s cannabis industry with a focus on quality and consistency of product, and to bring legitimacy to the industry with the highest level of integrity and professionalism.

MISSION STATEMENT

At Cresco, we aim to lead the nation’s cannabis industry with a focus on regulatory compliance, product consistency, and customer satisfaction. Our operations bring legitimacy to the cannabis industry by acting with the highest level of integrity, strictly adhering to regulations, and promoting the clinical efficacy of cannabis. As Cresco grows, we will operate with the same level of professionalism and precision in each new market we move in to.

JOB SUMMARY

The Automation & Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting automation and control systems across Cresco Labs’ manufacturing, packaging and other areas. This role focuses on improving equipment reliability, throughput, and data visibility across lab and production environments, while ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality standards.

This position plays a key role in scaling operations by integrating new equipment, standardizing control systems across sites, and driving automation initiatives that enhance efficiency, consistency, and traceability.

This is a technical, people-leadership role with multiple direct and indirect reporting relationships.

CORE JOB DUTIES

• Design, program, and maintain PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems
• Develop and support control systems for:
• Extraction and post-processing equipment (hydrocarbon, ethanol, solventless)
• Distillation, refinement, and formulation systems
• Automated packaging lines (filling, capping, labeling, cartoning)
• BAS and Environmental control systems.
• Troubleshoot controls, instrumentation, and system integration issues to minimize downtime
• Lead integration of new manufacturing and lab equipment into site-wide control architectures
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality teams to ensure equipment meets performance and compliance requirements
• Drive standardization of controls platforms, architectures, and naming conventions across multiple Cresco facilities
• Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, and startup activities
• Implement and maintain data collection systems for production metrics (OEE, OOE, throughput, downtime, yield)
• Support development of dashboards and reporting tools for real-time operational visibility
• Analyze system data to identify bottlenecks and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Develop and maintain technical documentation (control narratives, IO lists, P&IDs, SOPs)
• Support validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ where applicable) in regulated environments
• Lead or support automation scope for capital projects, expansions, and line upgrades
• Develop technical specifications and coordinate with OEMs, system integrators, and vendors
• Manage controls-related timelines, budgets, and deliverables
• Support multi-site rollout of standardized automation solutions
• Ability to travel as needed to sites across the U.S. (50% or more).

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in industrial automation within manufacturing or process environments
• Hands-on PLC programming experience (Allen-Bradley, Rockwell Automation and/or other)
• Experience with HMI/SCADA systems (FactoryTalk, Ignition, or similar)
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols (EtherNet/IP, Modbus, OPC)
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills
• Experience with automated packaging systems (filling, labeling, vision inspection)
• Experience developing, reviewing, redlining, and approving electrical, mechanical, and pneumatic schematics.
• Advanced MS Office skills.
• CAD Modeling (e.g., AutoCAD / SolidWorks) preferred.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical guidelines (GMP, GDP, ASTM).
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, quantitative, writing, and communication skills.

Pay Range

$110,000 - $150,000 USD

BENEFITS

• major medical, dental and vision insurance
• a 401(K)-match program
• FSA/HSA programs
• LTD/STD options
• life insurance and AD&D
• paid holidays and paid time off
• annual discretionary bonuses, stock options as well as participation in our employee discount program
• Benefits eligibility for permanent positions may vary by full-time or part-time roles, location, or position

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be 21 years of age or older to apply
• Must comply with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry
• The company does not offer employment-based visa sponsorship for this role or any other position, now or in the future. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis without the need for current or future sponsorship at any time.

Cresco Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all applicants will be considered without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.