Automation Engineer at Gifthealth Inc – Columbus, Ohio

At Gifthealth, we're revolutionizing the way people experience healthcare by simplifying the process of managing prescriptions and health services. Our mission is to provide a seamless, personalized, and efficient healthcare experience for all our customers. We're a dynamic, innovative, and customer-centric company dedicated to making a positive impact on people's lives.

Reporting to the Director of Pharmacy, the Automation Engineer is responsible for designing, optimizing, and scaling automated systems that support pharmacy fulfillment operations. This role focuses on developing efficient, reliable, and compliant processes that integrate automation, robotics, and production workflows to enable high-volume prescription fulfillment.

We are seeking an Automation Engineer to partner closely with engineering, pharmacy operations, and automation teams to improve throughput, reduce errors, and ensure processes meet regulatory and operational requirements. This position plays a critical role in building scalable systems that support growth while maintaining accuracy, quality, and compliance, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, operational excellence, and compliance standards.

• Designs and implements automated manufacturing and fulfillment processes, supporting production ramp-up, troubleshooting, and staff training on new systems
• Analyzes workflows and optimize processes to improve throughput, efficiency, and accuracy
• Develops SOPs, work instructions, and standardized process documentation, ensuring compliance with regulatory, quality, and safety requirements
• Conducts time studies, process mapping, and capacity planning for scaling operations
• Collaborates with robotics, software, and hardware teams to integrate automation systems
• Leads continuous improvement initiatives using Lean / Six Sigma methodologies
• Monitors KPIs (throughput, cycle time, yield, error rates) and implement improvements

Qualifications

• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field (Required)
• Licensure/Certification:
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt) (Preferred)
• Additional automation or engineering certifications (Preferred)
• Experience:
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing process engineering, automation, or operations engineering (Required)
• Experience designing and optimizing production or fulfillment processes (Required)
• Experience with automated production systems, robotics, or material handling systems (Preferred)
• Experience in healthcare, pharmacy, medical device, or regulated environments (Preferred)
• Experience with PLCs or similar systems (Preferred)
• Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
• Knowledge of manufacturing and process engineering principles; automation and production workflow design; lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies; process optimization and capacity planning; and data-driven performance measurement (Required)
• Knowledge of robotics and automated production systems; pharmacy, healthcare, or regulated manufacturing environments; and GMP, FDA, or pharmacy regulatory frameworks (Preferred)
• Process engineering and workflow design skills (Required)
• Data analysis and performance optimization skills (Required)
• Root cause analysis and problem-solving skills (Required)
• Cross-functional collaboration skills (Required)
• Automation system integration skills (Preferred)
• Process simulation or industrial automation tools skills (Preferred)
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and design scalable solutions (Required)
• Ability to translate operational needs into engineered processes (Required)
• Ability to work in fast-paced, high-growth environments (Required)
• Ability to anticipate scaling challenges and proactively design solutions (Preferred)

Work Environment

• Location: On-site
• Schedule: 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday with night and weekend hours on occasion as determined by the needs of the business and cross-facility travel as needed
• Regular meetings with internal Pharmacy Operations, Engineering, Operational Excellence, Compliance, and Quality, teams. This role may also have meetings with external vendor and automation partner representatives.

Key Essential Functions

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while writing or reviewing documentation
• Must be able to work on a computer for the entire shift
• Must be able to attend virtual meetings with cross-functional teams.

Status: Full-time
FLSA: Exempt

Gifthealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you do not meet every requirement but still feel you would be a great fit for this role, we encourage you to apply!

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required of personnel. Gifthealth reserves the right to modify job duties or descriptions at any time.