Sr. Automation and Controls Engineer

Cresco Labs•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Automation & Controls Engineer designs, implements, and supports automation and control systems across Cresco Labs’ manufacturing, packaging, laboratory, and other operating areas. The role improves equipment reliability, throughput, and data visibility while ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality standards. It supports operational growth by integrating new equipment, standardizing control systems across sites, and advancing automation initiatives that improve efficiency, consistency, and traceability. This is a technical, people-leadership role with multiple direct and indirect reporting relationships. The position leads or supports automation work for capital projects, expansions, and line upgrades; coordinates with operations, engineering, quality teams, OEMs, system integrators, and vendors; and supports commissioning, startup, validation, and multi-site rollouts. Travel to sites across the United States is required as needed, at 50% or more.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
At least 7 years of industrial automation experience in manufacturing or process environments.
Hands-on PLC programming experience with Allen-Bradley, Rockwell Automation, and/or other platforms.
Experience with HMI/SCADA systems such as FactoryTalk, Ignition, or similar.
Knowledge of industrial communication protocols, including EtherNet/IP, Modbus, and OPC.
Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
Experience with automated packaging systems, including filling, labeling, and vision inspection.
Experience developing, reviewing, redlining, and approving electrical, mechanical, and pneumatic schematics.
Advanced MS Office skills.
Excellent organizational, interpersonal, quantitative, writing, and communication skills.
Must be at least 21 years of age.
Must comply with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States permanently without current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

CAD modeling experience, such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks.
Knowledge of pharmaceutical guidelines, including GMP, GDP, and ASTM.

Responsibilities

Design, program, and maintain PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.
Develop and support controls for extraction and post-processing equipment, distillation, refinement and formulation systems, automated packaging lines, and building automation and environmental control systems.
Troubleshoot controls, instrumentation, and system integration issues to minimize downtime.
Lead integration of new manufacturing and laboratory 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 facilities.
Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and startup activities.
Implement and maintain data collection systems for production metrics such as OEE, OOE, throughput, downtime, and 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, including control narratives, IO lists, P&IDs, and SOPs.
Support validation activities, including 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.
Travel as needed to sites across the United States (50% or more).