Manager Robotics Automation Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

About the team:

The Project Engineering team is a multidisciplinary engineering group within Automation Engineering Group, bringing mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering together under a single organization. The team serves as the engineering escalation path for the deployed fleet, taking on problems that exceed field-level troubleshooting and converting them into scoped, engineered, and standardized solutions.

The team's work spans three connected areas. The first is the troubleshooting of complex problems: diagnosing multi-discipline failures across deployed robotic systems and engineering permanent, root-cause fixes rather than repeat repairs. The second is continuous improvement: converting recurring issues and field data into reliability upgrades and fleet-wide standardization. The third is support for existing and new product development and enhancements, in partnership with teams across the organization, to improve equipment currently in the field and to bring new capability online.

Positioned at the intersection of design, commissioning, and field support, the team operates as a cross-functional unit, with engineers at the Bolingbrook hub working alongside field implementation resources across North America. The work is a deliberate blend of reactive support and proactive engineering, and each role on the team contributes to uptime, performance consistency, and long-term customer outcomes across the fleet.

About the role:

As a Controls and Automation Engineer, you will own advanced support requirements, as well as the reliability and continuous improvement of deployed robotic systems. You will operate at the intersection of troubleshooting, system optimization, and product-level enhancement, ensuring automation systems perform consistently in demanding production environments.

This role blends reactive support with proactive engineering. You will diagnose complex issues, implement structured improvements, and partner cross-functionally to strengthen system stability across the fleet. Your work directly impacts uptime, performance consistency, and long-term customer outcomes.

In this role you will:

• Diagnose and resolve complex automation failures to minimize production downtime
• Design and implement preventative and predictive strategies that improve system reliability
• Lead system-level continuous improvement initiatives, including hardware and software upgrades
• Analyze production data and diagnostic trends to identify systemic performance gaps
• Provide remote support by responding to service tickets, guiding troubleshooting efforts, and triaging to onsite teams when needed
• Partner with Product, Deployment, and Engineering teams to standardize equipment configurations and improve repeatability
• Own and maintain system documentation, including procedures, maintenance logs, and change-control records
• Serve as the escalation point for complex technical issues across the fleet
• Mentor field technicians and engineers on troubleshooting and system health best practices
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, internal quality requirements, and industry regulations
• Collaborate with vendors to improve parts availability, diagnostics capability, and technical support

What makes you a great fit:

• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing automation or industrial robotics environments
• Strong proficiency in programming PLCs, robots, and industrial control systems
• Solid understanding of robotic systems, motion systems, and automated manufacturing equipment
• Hands-on experience diagnosing mechanical, electrical, and control system failures
• Ability to read electrical schematics and technical drawings
• Experience working in uptime-critical manufacturing environments
• Strong problem-solving skills and structured troubleshooting approach
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating cross-functionally
• Willingness to travel up to 50% based on business needs
• Valid driver's license and ability to support local travel

Bonus points if you have:

• Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments
• Experience standardizing equipment across multiple deployed sites
• Exposure to data-driven maintenance or predictive monitoring tools