2027 Future Talent Program - Elkton Manufacturing Intern

MSD Malaysia; Elkton (VA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 111,000; Part time

Job summary

MSD is seeking students for its Future Talent Program internship at the Elkton, Virginia site. The program offers 10–12 weeks of hands-on projects in biopharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing with exposure to biological, automation, maintenance, safety, and process engineering areas.

Ideal candidates are sophomores or juniors pursuing a Bachelor's in engineering or life sciences, with a strong academic record, leadership experience, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Sophomore or junior pursuing a Bachelor's degree in one of the listed engineering/biological fields.
• Available for 10–12 weeks starting May 2027.
• Must work onsite in Elkton, VA.
• Strong academic record and work achievements expected.
• Strong communication, ethics, and leadership demonstrated.

Responsibilities

• Provide on-the-floor support for operational and technical issues.
• Collaborate with shop floor on projects critical to vaccine manufacturing.
• Support cross-functional teams in vaccine, biologic, and sterile manufacturing.
• Conduct investigations and recommend corrective actions.
• Write and improve procedures for equipment and processes.
• Maintain manufacturing processes and regulatory compliance.
• Complete projects to improve process performance and yield.
• Perform data analysis and troubleshooting for daily operations.
• Collaborate with multi-functional teams.
• Foster an inclusive team culture.

Skills

Strong communication

Leadership experience

Problem-solving

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree (sophomore/junior) in Engineering/Biology

Enrollment in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or Biotechnology

Tools

Lean Six Sigma

Job description

Job Description The Future Talent Program features internships that last 10-12 weeks and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Manufacturing Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals. At our Company's campus in Elkton, Virginia, our Engineers have opportunities across many diverse areas including Biological, Automation, Maintenance, Safety, Process Engineering, Process Development, Technical Services, Utilities and Validation. The manufacturing facility is located in the Shenandoah Valley along the Shenandoah River and the Blue Ridge Mountains a short distance from the University of Virginia and James Madison University.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to apply their enthusiasm and technical skills as a member of a multidisciplinary team supporting the operation of biopharmaceutical and vaccine product manufacturing facilities.

Project responsibilities

• Providing on-the-floor support of operational and technical issues.
• Collaborating with the shop floor on a variety of different projects and activities that are critical to ongoing manufacturing of vaccines at the Elkton, VA site.
• Working as part of a cross-functional team to support vaccine, biologic, and sterile manufacturing processes.
• Conducting technical/operational investigations and analyses and recommending corrective and preventative actions.
• Writing, reviewing, and improving procedures for operation of equipment and processes.
• Maintain manufacturing processes and products at a high level of performance and regulatory compliance.
• Completing projects to improve the performance of our processes and manufacturing performance, including projects aimed at improving Right-First-Time performance or preventing/reducing deviations, and continuous improvement projects that seek to improve manufacturing efficiencies (yield, cost, cycle times).
• Perform data analysis, problem solving and/or troubleshooting for daily operations and projects.
• Collaboration with multi-functional, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Embracing and establishing an empowered, diverse, and inclusive team culture.

Required Education and Experience

• Candidates must be currently enrolled in a sophomore or junior level curriculum working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or Biotechnology.
• Candidates must be available for a minimum of 10-12 weeks beginning in May 2027.
• Candidates are expected to work onsite.
• Candidates must have superior technical competency as demonstrated by excellent academic record and work achievements.
• Candidates must have strong communication skills, personal character, and ethics.
• Candidates must have leadership accomplishments achieved through direct leadership roles or leading by influence.
• Candidates must have robust problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving, with a bias towards going to see problems for oneself in the field.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Candidates should have work experience in a laboratory, manufacturing or industrial setting.
• Candidates should have familiarity with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and its application.
• Candidates should have delivery results in a multi-functional, multi-disciplinary environment.
• Candidates should have experience using Lean/Six Sigma tools.
• Candidates should have capabilities for managing multiple tasks simultaneously, including leading small projects.
• Candidates should have experience in problem solving and/or troubleshooting.
• Candidates should have ability to examine an issue from diverse perspectives (safety, compliance, maintenance, automation, equipment, process, and people) in order to best understand and resolve it.
• Candidates should have strong desire to succeed and to help others to do the same.
• Candidates should have strong communication skills, written and verbal.
• Candidates should be enthusiastic, confident, and self-starters, with a passion for continuous learning.
• Candidates should have a minimum GPA of 3.20.

Employment Details

• Employee Status: Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)
• Relocation: No relocation
• VISA Sponsorship: No
• Travel Requirements: 10% Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable
• Shift: 1st - Day
• Valid Driving License: Yes
• Hazardous Material(s): Yes

Salary range: The salary range for this role is $39,908 - $111,111 FTP2027 MD2027

Medical Clearance may be required.

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: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement

Our company is 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.

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.

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.

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.