Controls & Automation Engineer
Unilever · Chicago, IL
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $89k–$133k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Food & beverage
- Posted
- 2 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Unilever (food & beverage) in Chicago, IL. Provide 24/7 on-call support for critical production issues that cannot be resolved by the on-shift team.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- OEE, Root cause, FDA / GMP, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PLC, Robotics
- Base pay
- $89k–$133k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $89k–$134k. This one lists $89k–$133k.
Median of the low and high ends of 18 live postings that list pay, out of 28 controls engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 27 other live controls postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- In line with similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 5+)
Typical $87k–$134k, from 17 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Automation 75%
- ✓ PLC 68%
- ✓ Root cause 43%
- ✓ Robotics 39%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 36%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for FDA / GMP, Power BI / Tableau, EHS / safety, Cost reduction, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Unilever
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Unilever in Chicago
3 other open roles at this site.
- Maintenance Specialist · Reliability · Specialist
- Maintenance Mechanic/Team Lead Line Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Quality Manager · Quality · Manager
Full description from UnileverAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Required skills
Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or related technical discipline.
3 to 7 years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or manufacturing project engineering.
Experience with food, beverage, consumer goods, pharmaceutical, or related manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated experience managing automation-related capital projects.
Provide 24/7 on-call support for critical production issues that cannot be resolved by the on-shift team.
Technical Skills
Required
- ✓PLC Programming (Rockwell, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or equivalent)
- ✓HMI/SCADA systems
- ✓Industrial networking (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus)
- ✓Instrumentation and process control
- ✓Electrical troubleshooting
- ✓VFDs, motor controls, and MCC systems
- ✓Project management and contractor coordination
qualifications
and education, and other business and organizational needs.
Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.
Long-Term Incentive (LTI) : This position is LTI eligible.
Benefits : Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to nume
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Job purpose
The Controls & Automation Project Engineer is responsible for the design, implementation, commissioning, and continuous improvement of automation, controls, and digital manufacturing systems. This role leads capital projects and technical initiatives that improve safety, reliability, quality, productivity, and operating costs across manufacturing operations.
The engineer serves as the technical lead for PLC, HMI, SCADA, industrial network, instrumentation, robotics, and digital factory systems while partnering closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and external vendors to deliver projects on time and within budget. This role aligns with industry best practices for automation, cyber security, process control, and project management.
Automation & Controls Leadership
- •Design, program, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC, HMI, SCADA, VFD, servo, and motion control systems.
- •Develop automation standards and control philosophies for manufacturing processes.
- •Lead commissioning, startup, FAT, SAT, IQ/OQ, and validation activities for new equipment and systems.
- •Support factory automation infrastructure including industrial networking, remote access, and control system architecture.
- •Improve process performance through advanced controls and automation technologies.
Capital Project Management
- •Manage automation and controls projects from concept through startup and handover.
- •Develop equipment specifications, URS documents, project scopes, and technical standards.
- •Create project schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
- •Coordinate contractors, system integrators, OEMs, and internal stakeholders.
- •Deliver projects safely, OTIF (On Time In Full), and within approved budgets.
Process Improvement & Reliability
- •Identify opportunities to improve OEE, waste, throughput, energy consumption, and labor efficiency through automation.
- •Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for major equipment failures.
- •Optimize machine performance using data analytics and process monitoring tools.
- •Support reliability initiatives and predictive maintenance programs.
Digital Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
- •Support implementation of digital factory technologies and smart manufacturing initiatives.
- •Develop dashboards, reporting tools, and automated performance monitoring systems.
- •Integrate manufacturing systems with business and enterprise applications.
- •Leverage IIoT, data historians, and analytics platforms to improve decision making.
Cyber Security & Compliance
- •Ensure automation systems comply with corporate cyber security standards.
- •Support network segmentation, backup strategies, disaster recovery, and system security initiatives.
- •Maintain compliance with GMP, Food Safety, OSHA, electrical codes, and site safety standards.
- •Participate in risk assessments, machine safety reviews, and process hazard evaluations.
Technical Leadership
- •Provide technical coaching and training to maintenance technicians, engineers, and operations personnel.
- •Develop and maintain electrical drawings, software backups, documentation, and control narratives.
- •Establish equipment standards and best practices across the facility.
- •Act as the site subject matter expert for controls and automation systems.
Preferred
- +FactoryTalk View
- +FactoryTalk Batch
- +FactoryTalk AssetCentre
- +OSI PI
- +Robotics and vision inspection systems
- +SQL databases and reporting tools
- +Power BI, PowerApps, or automation dashboard development
- +ISA, PMP, TÜV, or related certifications
Key Competencies
- •Safety Leadership
- •Project Management
- •Technical Problem Solving
- •Data-Driven Decision Making
- •Continuous Improvement
- •Cross-Functional Collaboration
- •Communication & Influence
- •Change Management
- •Digital & Automation Innovation
Success Measures
The Controls & Automation Project Engineer will be measured by
- •Safety performance and compliance
- •OTIF capital project delivery
- •OEE improvement
- •Downtime reduction
- •Waste reduction
- •Automation system reliability
- •Cyber security compliance
- •Cost savings delivered
- •Training and capability development of site personnel
- •Successful deployment of digital manufacturing technologies
Pay: The pay range for this position is $88,600 to $133,000. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications,