Associate Specialist, Engineering

MSD; North Carolina; On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Durham, North Carolina is seeking an Associate Specialist in Technical Operations to drive continuous improvement across vaccine manufacturing. You will design experiments, support complex process/equipment issues, and author manufacturing documents for change control.

The role emphasizes collaboration with Quality, Planning and Operations teams and requires strong project management skills. The ideal candidate holds a B.S.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering or sciences required.
• Strong communication, leadership and teamwork abilities.
• Ability to manage projects to schedule and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Implement continuous improvement projects and support equipment and investigations.
• Support and/or execute projects increasing compliance and efficiency.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing for complex process/equipment issues.
• Design and conduct experimental protocols using lab facilities or full-scale equipment.
• Maintain and update technical/manufacturing documents for studies and change control.
• Support regulatory inspections and on-the-floor troubleshooting.
• Lead CAPAs and value capture projects to improve yield and reduce cycle times.
• Collaborate with Coaches, Operators, Quality and Planning teams.

Skills

Adaptability

Data Analysis

Process Optimization

Troubleshooting

Teamwork

Professional Engineering

Engineering Standards

Estimation and Planning

Field Failure Analysis

Manufacturing Scale-Up

Oral Solid Dosage

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

B.S. Degree in Engineering or Sciences

Job description

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate Specialist to join the Continuous Improvement team in Durham, North Carolina.

The Associate Specialist, Technical Operations engineer is responsible for providing technical support to the vaccine manufacturing areas within Technical Operations with a focus on process improvement and high impact projects.

Position Responsibilities:

• Implementing continuous improvement projects as well as supporting equipment and investigations as required.
• Supports and/or executes continuous improvement projects that increase compliance, simplify/ standardize and/or gain efficiencies.
• Provides technical support to manufacturing for complex problems and issues including process/equipment.
• Designs and conducts experimental protocols as needed using the Technical Operations lab facilities and/or production equipment at full scale.
• Authors and updates technical and manufacturing documents necessary for engineering studies, change control.
• Supports regulatory inspection activities for the facility
• Provides on-the-floor support of operational and technical (process/equipment) issues on the shop floor.
• Completes projects to improve the performance of our processes, including investigation Corrective/Preventative Actions (CAPAs), projects aimed at improving Right-First-Time performance or preventing/reducing deviations, and value capture projects that seek to improve yield/efficiency, reduce cost, or lower our processing cycle times.
• Supports team safety, environmental, and compliance objectives.
• Manages project timelines to ensure key compliance and customer due dates are met; escalating any potential delays and develop remediation plans when possible.
• Collaborates effectively with the area Coaches, Operators/Mechanics, support groups, Quality, and Planning.

Required Experience and Skills:

• B.S. Degree in Engineering or Sciences.
• Communication, leadershipand teamwork skills.
• Ability to manage projects/work to schedule/deadlines.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in biologics, vaccine or bulk sterile manufacturing facilities.
• Experience using Lean/Six Sigma tools.

Travel

• Up to 10% #MSJR #EBRG’s #VetJobs

Required Skills:

• Adaptability
• Applied Mathematics
• Chemical Engineering Fundamentals
• Chemical Plant Operations
• Data Analysis
• Engineering Standards
• Estimation and Planning
• Field Failure Analysis
• Manufacturing Scale-Up
• Oral Solid Dosage
• Process Optimization
• Professional Engineering
• Site Supervision
• Teamwork
• Troubleshooting

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement

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.

More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

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:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Cleaning Supplies

Job Posting End Date:

09/10/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.