Temporary R&D Engineer

Weight loss, better sex, fuller hair, improved skin and more online•Chicago, IL

1d•$103,700 - $128,500•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Temporary R&D Engineer on Ro’s Product Development team, you will help design, optimize, validate, and document processes that bring new products from development through launch and into repeatable pharmacy operations. Working at the intersection of Product Development and Pharmacy Operations, you will partner with Pharmacy, Pharmacy Compliance, Quality/Regulatory, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional teams to translate product requirements into scalable, reliable, and controlled compounding processes. The role focuses on process development, scale-up, process optimization, and technical documentation. You will assess workflows, identify risks and improvement opportunities, develop standardized processes, and support pilot and production activities so products can be produced consistently and efficiently at required quality standards. As a temporary team member, you will ramp quickly, independently drive defined workstreams, and leave behind robust processes, documentation, and tools for ongoing operations. Ro is a direct-to-patient healthcare company offering nationwide telehealth, labs, and pharmacy services through a vertically integrated platform. The position supports flexibility to work anywhere in the United States. Employees in the New York tri-state area work from headquarters on Tuesdays and Thursdays; employees elsewhere can participate in in-person collaborations throughout the year. Travel to Ro pharmacy locations, suppliers, manufacturers, or other partners is required as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related technical field.
At least 3 years of experience in process engineering, manufacturing engineering, process development, technical operations, or a related role.
Hands-on experience developing and scaling processes, including pilot activities, production trials, process qualification, technology transfer, or new product introduction.
Strong process-engineering fundamentals, including defining process parameters, evaluating process capability, identifying sources of variability, and designing robust production workflows.
Experience with structured problem solving and continuous improvement, such as root-cause analysis, process mapping, FMEA, Lean/Six Sigma, DOE, or similar methods.
Strong analytical skills and ability to use data to evaluate process performance, identify trends, and make recommendations.
Experience creating technical documentation, such as SOPs, work instructions, process flows, specifications, protocols, and technical reports.
Excellent project and timeline management skills, including independently managing multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, including translating technical information for cross-functional audiences and working with technical and operational teams.
Hands-on, detail-oriented approach and willingness to observe and test processes in pharmacy or production environments.
Experience in a regulated environment and understanding of process controls, documentation, quality systems, and compliance.
Ability to travel as needed to support development, testing, scale-up, and implementation activities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in pharmaceuticals, compounding, consumer health, medical devices, cosmetics, food, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
Knowledge of compounding pharmacy operations and guidelines.
Experience supporting automation, equipment selection, or process/equipment qualification.

Responsibilities

Develop and optimize processes for new and existing products, translating product and formulation requirements into repeatable compounding workflows for pharmacy operations.
Lead process scale-up and technology transfer from lab or pilot development into production or compounding, in partnership with Product Development and Pharmacy teams.
Map and assess current processes to identify bottlenecks, variability, operational risks, and opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, and scalability.
Design future-state processes and establish process parameters, controls, equipment requirements, material flows, and operating procedures.
Plan and execute process trials, pilot runs, engineering batches, and first production runs; evaluate process performance and resolve technical issues before or during launch.
Analyze process performance, troubleshoot issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective or preventive improvements.
Develop and maintain technical documentation, including process maps, SOPs, work instructions, process specifications, batch documentation, and equipment requirements.
Identify critical process parameters and risks and partner with Quality, Compliance, and Pharmacy stakeholders to establish controls and acceptance criteria.
Evaluate equipment and compounding capabilities and recommend ways to improve process reliability, throughput, ergonomics, quality, or scalability.
Support new product launches by creating process-readiness plans, identifying dependencies and risks, and ensuring operational requirements are addressed.
Partner with Product Development, Pharmacy Operations, Pharmacy Compliance, Quality/Regulatory, Supply Chain, and external partners to drive projects from development through implementation.
Manage multiple workstreams and timelines, communicating risks, dependencies, decisions, and progress to stakeholders.
Drive continuous improvement by simplifying workflows, reducing variability and waste, improving cycle time, and increasing process capability.
Transfer knowledge to operational teams through documentation, training, and structured handoffs.
Stay informed about relevant compounding, pharmacy, manufacturing, automation, and process-engineering technologies and capabilities.
Travel as needed to Ro pharmacy locations, suppliers, manufacturers, or other partners to support development, testing, scale-up, and implementation.