Applications Engineer Pharma

TENSION PACKAGING & AUTOMATION

Title: Application Engineer - Pharma

Department: Sales and Applications

Reports to: Director, Pharmacy Systems and Engineering

FLSA Status: Salary, Exempt

SUMMARY

The primary responsibility of the Application Engineer - Pharma is to deliver superior technical and commercial solutions, enabling our sales organization to effectively meet the needs and expectations of our customers. As an integral member of the Tension Packaging & Automation expert team, this role is tasked with providing engineered automation solutions that enhance performance and reliability in critical applications within prescription fulfillment facilities. The Application Engineer - Pharma cultivates a comprehensive understanding of Tension applications and products, maintains familiarity with competitors' offerings and workflows, and possesses up-to-date knowledge of the pharmacy design industry. This expertise is leveraged to support our sales organization in driving increased sales and profitability.

The Application Engineer - Pharma possesses a comprehensive understanding of mail order, central-fill, specialty, hospital outpatient, and PET pharmacy fulfillment, as well as distribution center operations, material handling technology, warehouse software systems, back-end workflow pharmacy software, and full system integration. This position demands a critical thinker who is adept at designing innovative solutions, motivating team members, and fostering an environment that encourages the achievement of goals and objectives. The ideal candidate will engage in consultations with customers, sales, and operations teams to accurately assess project requirements, needs, deliverables, and associated financial and execution risks. They will provide strategic recommendations to sales for custom-designed, cost-effective solutions aimed at optimizing pharmacy workflows and mitigating identified risks. In addition, the candidate will regularly update sales and operations teams on current and potential risks, recommending suitable mitigation strategies. Acting as a liaison between Sales and System Engineering teams, the Application Engineer - Pharma will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of selected products and their applications. Ultimately, this role is pivotal in ensuring the successful completion of projects and driving continuous improvement within the department.

• Conduct a comprehensive review of non-standard applications and products, interpret specification requirements, analyze building floorplan layouts, assess technical risks, address field challenges, and evaluate deviations from established standards to support the sales team.
• Leverage our technical advantage to increase sales and profitability
• Support design team on new equipment design efforts, including:
• Understanding the pharmacy's current data with respect to number of RX's per shift, types of RX's to be dispensed, ratios of different order profiles and implement spreadsheet solution that meets the pharmacy current and future needs
• Create a dispensing profile concept and drawing in AutoCAD using various types of conveyors, workstations, and automated dispensing, packaging and sorting equipment
• Concept design to support the hypothesis
• Refine design to validate or invalidate the hypothesis
• Develop solution and capital budget that meets business and operational requirements
• Understand and support concept design project budgets and schedules
• Support development of wide array of conceptual designs, from manual to fully automated solutions, to meet Customer requirements, business, and operational requirements
• Document and manage project changes with Customer and Tension Design Team
• Support tools development, continuous improvement, and use of various programs
• Lead project team resources (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Controls Engineering) during Integrated Detail Design and Implementation project phases
• Participate and sometimes lead final engineering efforts and engineering weekly meetings, publishing weekly engineering status reports (consolidated from electrical engineering, design engineering, and technical services), tracking engineering schedule and budgets, and resource planning (report to engineering directors)
• Develop and support material handling designs in AutoCad.
• Support requirement documentation - business and operational requirements, engineering requirements, and others.
• Lead the development and responses to RFP's and requirement documentation for Tension solution scope
• Work individually or with a team to meet project deadlines.
• Work with sales and customers to design system from blank slate and or modify a customer's existing system to be more efficient.
• Consult with departments or customers on project status and proposals.
• Work with customers or departments on technical issues including Engineering system design and maintenance.
• Analyze information to recommend and plan installation of new systems or modifications of existing system.
• Consult with software engineering steam to evaluate software-hardware interfaces and develop specifications and performance requirements.
• Design and develop Engineering systems using scientific analysis and models to predict and measure outcomes and design consequences.
• Prepare reports on design project specifications, activities, or status.
• Confer with project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Deep understanding of designing equipment and systems in mail order, central-fill, specialty, hospital outpatient, and PET pharmacy fulfillment and distribution center operations.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, SolidWorks, MS Navision, and MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Project).
• Ability to consistently deliver exceptional customer service to ensure customers feel valued, understood and prioritized.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with attention to detail
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to analyze, evaluate and solve problems effectively.
• Positive attitude, well-groomed professional appearance required; team player, ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external customers.
• Knowledge of Engineering development life cycle
• Adaptable and flexible, with the desire to and ability to thrive in dynamic, rapidly growing environment with the desire to work in a challenging fast-growing environment.
• Robust design skills in development of new equipment, redesign of current equipment to improve system operational or development complete systems.
• Strong presentation skills to explain concepts and design to internal team members, prospects and customers.
• Ability to manage and lead in situations with customers, team members, and vendor partners with composure and competence.
• Ability to travel approximately 40%.
• Must have a valid Driver's License and passport or eligibility to obtain one.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering

• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in designing equipment and systems in mail order, central fill, specialty, healthcare systems and/or pet pharmacies required

• Three or more years related experience as an Application or Project Engineer in the pharmaceutical fulfillment industry.

• Experience in warehouse design elements including, conveyors, sortation, print n apply, dispensing, packaging, scanners, and other equipment used in Pharma operation centers.

Core Competencies:

Integrity - Conducts self in a professional, ethical, and respectful manner always with all associate levels. Demonstrates honesty, trustworthiness, and loyalty.

Knowledge & Expertise - Possesses a sufficient knowledge of job requirements and responsibilities and maintains a proficient level of all job-related skills. Actively seeks and requests training or developmental opportunities that will address learning gaps and/or knowledge, skill, or ability deficiencies. Demonstrates job-related aptitude and confidence.

Ownership & Accountability - Takes control of daily and long-term strategic plans and objectives as they relate to individual goals. Prioritizes work projects, meets deadlines and commitments, and consistently achieves excellence in all areas of responsibility. Demonstrates dependability, discipline and loyalty.

Performance & Results - Exhibits a clear understanding of individual, departmental and company goals and objectives and ensures that these goals and objectives are met. Demonstrates self-motivation and persistence.

Teamwork & Collaboration - Works effectively with others to achieve goals. Encourages and facilitates cooperation, trust, and solidarity among team members. Treats all people with respect, courtesy, and consideration. Remains open to new ideas and approaches. Communicates effectively. Demonstrates a positive and supportive attitude.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.