Is there a way to unlock screen programmatically?
The duplicate link I added has some really good Apple Script options.

$ osascript -e 'tell application "System Events"
&gt; keystroke "verysecurepassword"
&gt; key code 36
&gt; end tell'




I might also suggest using LockScreen. It's a hidden application that comes preinstalled and is protected by System Integrity protection. It will put a lock icon on the screen, lock the keyboard and mouse, and freeze the Touch Bar (Sounds malicious, right?).


System Preferences > Security &amp; Privacy > Uncheck "Require Password...."
To lock the Mac use 



$ /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/AppleVNCServer.bundle/Contents/Support/LockScreen.app/Contents/MacOS/LockScreen



To unlock the Mac use (non tested but should work)



    $ killall LockScreen