Corporate Automation Reliability Engineer

McMaster-Carr•Chicago, IL

About The Position

McMaster-Carr is an innovative e-commerce company helping customers build and repair anything because we offer everything. We've thrived 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.

Requirements

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

Responsibilities

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 Al-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