Associate Director, Engineering - Capital Projects

Merck; Elkton (VA); Hybrid; USD 142,400 - 224,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement benefits

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Merck is seeking an Associate Director to support their Global Engineering Solutions team. The role involves planning and implementing capital projects within a GMP manufacturing environment. Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of seven years of related experience along with leadership skills. This position requires up to 50% travel and a hybrid work model, with a salary range of $142,400 to $224,100. Comprehensive benefits such as healthcare, retirement plans, and paid time off are included.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years post‑bachelor’s experience in GMP manufacturing and/or technical support of GMP manufacturing operations.
• Minimum of two years project leadership and/or management experience.
• Ability to travel, both domestic and international.

Responsibilities

• Planning, design, and implementation of capital projects including scope generation.
• Manage technical areas and small capital projects from end to end.
• Provide on-site support five days a week for up to three years.

Skills

Capital project management

Change management

Clinical manufacturing

Decision making

Drug product manufacturing

Engineering design

GMP compliance

Industrial hygiene

Interpersonal relationships

Lean manufacturing

Manufacturing scale-up

Oral communications

Project leadership

Project management

Regulatory compliance

Risk assessment

Root cause analysis (RCA)

Strategic thinking

Team player

Technical transfer

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Biochemistry, Biomedical, or Computer/Electrical Engineering

Job description

Job Description

The Associate Director operates under the guidance of a Director in the Global Engineering Solutions team supporting Technology Center, Large Molecule Process Engineering. The individual collaborates with other Integrated Project Team (IPT) members (Project Management, Technology, Maintenance, Automation, Plant Operations and Safety), Engineering Firms and Vendors to progress deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Planning, design, and implementation of capital projects including scope generation
• Process & facility design
• Capacity assessments
• Equipment selection
• Vendor management and interaction
• Factory acceptance testing
• Facility start-up and commissioning
• Construction support and/or management
• Equipment qualification
• Technology transfer
• Process demonstration

The associate director will also manage technical areas and small capital projects from end to end, provide on-site support five days a week for up to three years, and travel up to 50% as required.

Qualifications

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Mechanical, Chemical, Biochemistry, Biomedical, or Computer/Electrical Engineering or applicable science

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum of seven years post‑bachelor’s experience in GMP manufacturing and/or technical support of GMP manufacturing operations (advanced degrees considered)
• Minimum of two years project leadership and/or management
• Written and verbal communication, leadership and teamwork skills
• Experience with engineering design, equipment start‑up and operation, vendor interface, risk assessment and process safety
• Ability to travel, both domestic and international

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Downstream, or Bioconjugation Drug Substance, and/or Drug Product Process Engineering experience
• Estimating and/or project controls experience or expertise
• Capital management process experience
• Experience with equipment life‑cycle approach including specification, selection, testing & commissioning, troubleshooting and qualification
• Construction management experience
• Experience with potent compound manufacturing, process safety, and industrial hygiene

Required Skills

• Capital project management
• Change management
• Clinical manufacturing
• Decision making
• Drug product manufacturing
• Engineering design
• GMP compliance
• Industrial hygiene
• Interpersonal relationships
• Lean manufacturing
• Manufacturing scale‑up
• Oral communications
• Project leadership
• Project management
• Regulatory compliance
• Risk assessment
• Root cause analysis (RCA)
• Strategic thinking
• Team player
• Technical transfer

Preferred Skills

• Antibody drug conjugates (ADC)

Other Information

Work location: On‑site in the United States; travel up to 50%.

Hybrid work model: Employees in office‑based positions work three days onsite per week (Monday‑Thursday) with Friday remote, unless business‑critical tasks require presence. Field‑based, facility‑based, manufacturing‑based, or research‑based positions require daily onsite attendance.

Salary range: $142,400.00 – $224,100.00.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and other healthcare and insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. Comprehensive benefits information is available on the company website.

This role is open to US and Puerto Rico residents only.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal opportunities for all applicants and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other legally protected characteristics. We comply with affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Requisition ID

R397000