Improvement Engineer

Merck; Noord-Brabant; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

35.5 days annual leave

Pension scheme

On-site restaurant

Gym membership support

Park on site

Job summary

Merck Boxmeer, a leading animal health manufacturing site, is seeking an Improvement Engineer to drive process optimization and support product lifecycle management within the IPT Antigen organization. You will lead cross-functional projects with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and R&D to deliver safe, compliant, and efficient production.

A structured, proactive mindset and strong stakeholder communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Life Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in highly regulated manufacturing environments (pharma/biotech/food/chemical).
• Experience in GMP and/or EHS frameworks.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional improvement and transfer projects across the IPT.
• Act as Site Transfer Coordinator for product transfers.
• Support technical investigations and root cause analyses.
• Lead high-impact investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Identify opportunities for process, quality, and operational improvements.
• Develop business cases, project plans, and implementation strategies.
• Assess regulatory and compliance impacts on manufacturing.
• Contribute to procedures, policies, and quality systems.
• Review and approve GMP-related documentation.
• Support internal and external inspections and audits.
• Analyze process, batch, and performance data for trends.
• Contribute to site quality and safety systems.

Skills

Project management

Lean Six Sigma

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Structured mindset

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Biotechnology/Biochemistry/Biomedical Sciences/Life Sciences/Chemical Engineering

Job description

Make an impact in animal health manufacturing

Are you an engineer who enjoys solving complex challenges, leading improvements, and working with people across different disciplines? Do you thrive in environments where innovation, quality, and continuous improvement come together? Then this could be the opportunity for you.

Join one of the world's leading animal health manufacturing sites in Boxmeer, where innovative vaccines and biological products help improve the health and wellbeing of animals worldwide.

Improvement Engineer

Welcome to the team

The Boxmeer manufacturing site is a key part of a global animal health production network and specializes in the production and packaging of veterinary products under GMP standards. The IPT Antigen organization is responsible for the large-scale production of bacterial and viral antigens and other biotech products using advanced cell culture, fermentation, and purification technologies.

Within the IPT Antigen organization, the Improvement Team consists of approximately 15 Improvement Engineers who drive process optimization, technology transfers, project management, and continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.

As an Improvement Engineer, you will collaborate with colleagues from Operations, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and R&D to ensure reliable, efficient, and compliant production processes.

The Role

As Improvement Engineer, you will play a key role in introducing new products, supporting product lifecycle management, and driving operational excellence across the IPT. You will lead projects and improvement initiatives that contribute to safety, quality, compliance, and business performance.

This position offers a unique opportunity to combine technical expertise, project management, and continuous improvement methodologies while making a visible impact on manufacturing outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional improvement and transfer projects across the IPT
• Act as Site Transfer Coordinator for product transfers, including transfers from development to manufacturing sites and between production locations
• Support technical investigations and root cause analyses using a structured and data-driven approach
• Lead high-impact investigations and implement sustainable corrective actions
• Identify opportunities for process, quality, and operational improvements
• Develop business cases, project plans, and implementation strategies for improvement initiatives
• Assess the impact of regulatory and compliance requirements on manufacturing processes
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of procedures, policies, and quality systems
• Review and approve GMP-related documentation where appropriate
• Support internal and external inspections and audits
• Analyze process, batch, and performance data to identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Contribute to site quality and safety systems, potentially as Sub System Owner

Your Profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Life Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related field
• Experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, chemical, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment
• Experience in project management and working within GMP and/or EHS frameworks
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, or a strong motivation to develop these capabilities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to translate ideas into practical and sustainable solutions
• A structured mindset and the ability to perform effectively in a dynamic environment
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• A proactive, collaborative, and results-oriented attitude
• Professional proficiency in both Dutch and English
• Living within a reasonable commuting distance of Boxmeer

What we offer

The opportunity to contribute to the health and well-being of both animals and people, within a stable environment where collaboration and collegiality come first. In addition, you can expect:

• A competitive salary based on your knowledge and experience
• A 3% year-end allowance and an annual bonus based on individual and company performance
• A minimum of 35.5 days of annual leave
• Travel expense reimbursement and a solid pension scheme
• A high-quality on-site restaurant offering fresh and healthy options daily
• Excellent accessibility: the train station is located directly at our main entrance, and there is ample parking available
• A contribution toward your personal gym or sports membership to support your well-being
• A beautiful private park on site, ideal for a walk, break, or moment of relaxation
• Mental well-being support via Lyra Health for you and your family members
• Access to a dedicated prayer and meditation room
• Extensive growth and development opportunities thanks to the size of the site and the presence of multiple disciplines and global departments represented in Boxmeer
• A workplace within an organ