Job Description
Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, and teamwork of an individual like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and teamwork. As part of our global team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.
Applications are sought for an opportunity in the Vaccine and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D department, which is part of our Company's Research Labs division. The individual will support our Company's process development efforts for Vaccine programs at West Point, PA.
Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D is responsible for the development and clinical manufacturing of Drug Substance (DS) and Drug Product Intermediates (DPI) for the vaccine and advanced therapy pipeline, spanning from preclinical to commercialization stages. Our vaccines process development team develops safe, scalable, robust, cost-effective processes that enable clinical and commercial manufacture of vaccines and adjuvants across all vaccine modalities.
We are seeking an innovative, highly motivated, and experienced Senior Specialist to join us at our research and development site in West Point, PA. The candidate will be responsible for technical contributions and leadership of operation technologies (OT) and lab automation.
The job responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Contribute to development, implementation, and sustainment of operation technologies strategy to enable digital transformation of the VAX Process Research and Development labs.
Contribute to a range of lab automation activities including, but not limited to: (1) Lead and execute the design, scope, implementation, and documentation of automation projects for the labs; (2) Provide automation support for lab equipment, instruments and automation systems; (3) Drive comprehensive management of change including safety focused code design; (4) Support integration of new instrumentation and automation systems in process labs (5) Lead ongoing maintenance and upgrades for automation systems (6) Supervise project based automation contractors.
Collaborate with Pilot Plant automation team to cross train and evaluate new operation technologies to improve operation reliability and increase efficiency.
Occasional travel and off hour or weekend work may be required.
The candidate should be self-motivated, well-organized, have strong problem-solving skills, and be able to think strategically. The individual should also be adaptable, demonstrate a willingness and ability to learn new technologies. The individual will be expected to demonstrate the ability to work both independently and as part of a team and have excellent communication skills in both verbal and written formats. In addition to the core responsibilities outlined above, the candidate will be expected to keep careful notes, comply with all required training, and maintain a focused attention on laboratory safety.
Position Qualifications:
Education Minimum Requirement:
BS in Engineering, Information Technology or related discipline with a minimum of 6 years’ relevant automation experience
Required Experience and Skills:
Highly motivated with the ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic setting.
Strong organizational, planning, and communication skills.
Previous automation experience supporting process development or production of pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, or vaccines.
Significant DeltaV, data collection, and automation integration experience
Ability to work independently and in a cross-functional team environment
Preferred Experience and Skills:
Experience with manufacturing equipment, process control, tuning, networking, data analysis, and capital projects.
Experience with SCADA systems like Ignition, WinCC OA, Unicorn.
Experience with Project Management Methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, etc) and Tools (MS Project, RACI, GANTT).
Required Skills:
Automation Systems, Biopharmaceuticals, Collaboration, Technical Problem-SolvingPreferred Skills:
Change Management, Working in a Fast-Paced EnvironmentCurrent Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.
As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.
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U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
The salary range for this role is
$117,000.00 - $184,200.00This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.
The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.
San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
RegularRelocation:
DomesticVISA Sponsorship:
NoTravel Requirements:
No Travel RequiredFlexible Work Arrangements:
Not ApplicableShift:
Not IndicatedValid Driving License:
NoHazardous Material(s):
N/AJob Posting End Date:
05/1/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.