Associate Specialist, Manufacturing Automation

MSD; Elkton (VA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid holidays

Vacation

Job summary

MSD in Elkton, VA seeks an Entry-Level Automation Associate Specialist to support 24/7 manufacturing operations with hands-on automation tech. You will work 12-hour rotating shifts as first-line support for PLCs, DCS, and OEM platforms, contributing to safe, compliant production of life-saving products.

The role emphasizes problem-solving, teamwork, and continuous improvement within a cGMP environment, with training and growth opportunities across manufacturing disciplines.

Qualifications

• Strong technical and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to evaluate issues from safety, compliance, maintenance, automation, equipment, process and people perspectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Onsite work in an operational manufacturing setting required.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on automation technical support across the site during 12-hour rotating shifts.
• Serve as initial contact for shop-floor automation support calls.
• Troubleshoot and support PLCs, DCS, and OEM platforms.
• Diagnose and resolve issues impacting yield, cycle time, reliability, and uptime.
• Maintain automation systems in compliance with cGMPs.
• Oversee investigations of automation anomalies and prevent recurrence.
• Develop solutions for recurring automation problems and support CI initiatives.
• Provide automation training and technical guidance to operations staff.
• Write, review, and improve procedures for system operation.
• Participate in process and equipment safety reviews.

Job description

Job Description

Entry‑Level Automation Associate Specialist

Location: Elkton, VA | 12‑Hour Rotating Shifts

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity with a rapidly growing pharmaceutical manufacturer? If so, this role offers a unique opportunity to launch your engineering career supporting highly automated, life‑saving manufacturing operations.

At our Elkton, Virginia campus, located in the Shenandoah Valley along the Shenandoah River and near the Blue Ridge Mountains, we are seeking entry‑level engineers to support and sustain manufacturing operations through hands‑on automation technical support in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

Position Overview

This role is an operations‑focused, shop‑floor automation support position. The successful candidate will work 12‑hour rotating shifts, serving as first‑line technical support for automated manufacturing systems that produce pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and vaccine products.

You will apply your technical skills, problem‑solving ability, and enthusiasm as part of a cross‑functional, multidisciplinary team responsible for ensuring safe, compliant, and reliable manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide hands‑on automation technical support across the manufacturing site while working 12‑hour rotating shifts (days/nights, weekends, and holidays as required)
• Serve as the initial point of contact for shop‑floor automation support calls
• Troubleshoot and support automation systems, including:
  • Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
  • Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
  • Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) automation platforms
• Diagnose and resolve complex automation and equipment issues impacting:
  • Manufacturing yield
  • Cycle time
  • Reliability and uptime
• Maintain automation systems in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
• Oversee investigations of automation anomalies and implement solutions to prevent recurrence
• Develop solutions for recurring automation problems and support continuous improvement initiatives
• Provide automation‑related training and technical guidance to operations and technical staff
• Write, review, and improve procedures for system administration and process operation
• Participate in process and equipment safety reviews
• Embrace and promote an empowered, diverse, and inclusive team culture

Education Minimum Requirement

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Science, or Business

Required Qualifications

• Strong technical and analytical problem‑solving skills with a hands‑on, field‑first mindset
• Ability to evaluate issues from multiple perspectives, including safety, compliance, maintenance, automation, equipment, process, and people
• Strong desire to succeed individually while helping others succeed as a team
• Enthusiastic, confident self‑starter with a passion for continuous learning
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability and expectation to work onsite in an operational manufacturing setting

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Degree focus in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, computer science, integrated science, or physics
• Prior experience in manufacturing, engineering, science, or military environments
• Familiarity with or interest in automated manufacturing systems and control platforms
• Exposure to:
  • Emerson DeltaV
  • Allen‑Bradley PLCs
  • OSI‑PI
  • SQL
  • Infobatch
  • Knowledge of Batch Processing and S88 standards
  • Awareness of Good Automated Manufacturing Practice (GAMP) standards
• Strong personal motivation to work for a company dedicated to saving and improving lives
• Interest in building a diverse, long‑term career within an active manufacturing campus

Required Skills

• Audit Management
• Automation
• Automation Solutions
• Automation Technology
• Breakdown Maintenance
• Business Process Improvements
• Control Logic
• Data Management
• Design Automation
• Design for Maintainability
• Electrical Engineering
• Learning Agility
• Manufacturing
• Manufacturing Systems
• Mechanical Engineering
• Problem Management
• Process Implementations
• Process Safety
• Production Management
• Quality Management
• Real‑Time Programming
• Reliability Improvement
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• System Operations
• Technical Training

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.

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.

The salary range for this role is

$71,900.00 - $113,200.00

This 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.

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:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day, 2nd - Evening, 3rd - Night

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

na

Job Posting End Date:

10/15/2026*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.