Associate Specialist, Technical Operations Engineering

Merck & Co.; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co. in West Point, PA, is seeking individuals for laboratory-based roles supporting multi-product vaccine manufacturing processes. You will join the Analytical team to perform identification and characterization testing to optimize processes and investigate issues.

The role emphasizes rapid, accurate work, collaboration across Operations, Technology, Quality, and other support groups, and strong data communication. B.S./M.S. in a relevant field with 0–2 years of experience is expected.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry or comparable discipline, with a minimum of 0-2 years of relevant experience.
• General working knowledge of experimental preparation, execution, analysis, and safety.
• Good laboratory documentation practices in notebooks and data review.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and cross-functionally.

Responsibilities

• Functioning as a key member of the Analytical team supporting lab-scale process optimization and investigations.
• Execute assignments against accelerated, critical-path timelines in a right-first-time manner.
• Communicate data across organizations.
• Collaborate in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary laboratory environment.

Skills

Lab testing

Data communication

Written and oral comms

Independent and cross-functional work

Problem solving

Education

BS/MS in Chemical Eng, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry

Tools

HPLC

UPLC

CE

SDS-PAGE

ELISA

Job description

Job Description

West Point Technical Operations Process Support Laboratories (WPTO PSL) is seeking highly motivated individuals to join the laboratory team supporting multi-product vaccine manufacturing processes.- The role will be a laboratory-based role collaborating with Operations, Technology, Quality, and other support groups to meet targeted manufacturing and product projects, including product/process investigation, continuous improvement changes, and strategic product/process initiatives.

Primary Activities

• Functioning as a key member of the Analytical team within Technical Operations laboratories through the execution of identification and characterization testing in support of lab-scale process optimization and investigations.
• Executing assignments against accelerated, critical-path timelines in a right-first-time manner.
• Communicates data across organizations.
• The candidate must function well and be able to collaborate in a fast-paced, integrated, multidisciplinary team environment in a laboratory-based role.

Education Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry or comparable discipline, with a minimum of 0 - 2 years of relevant experience.

Experience and Skills

Required

• General working knowledge and practices associated with experimental preparation, execution, analysis, and safety.
• Good laboratory documentation practices in notebooks and corresponding data review.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and cross-functionally.

Preferred

• Knowledge and understanding of one or more of the following; separation-based methodology (HPLC, UPLC, CE, SDS-PAGE), absorbance and fluorescence protein quantification, and plate-based characterization (ELISA, enzymatic activity).
• cGMPs experience.
• Experience performing or developing analytical test methods for recombinant proteins, viruses, and/or polysaccharides.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving skills including a hands-on approach to problem solving, with a bias towards going to see problems for oneself in the field.
• Skill in troubleshooting experimental design, assay development, and data analysis.

Required Skills

Adaptability, Assay Development, Biochemistry, Biopharmaceutical Operations, Chemistry, Data Review, Design of Experiments (DOE), Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Laboratory Analysis, Multitasking, Problem Solving, Process Improvements, Protein Quantification, Recombinant Proteins, Report Writing, Technical Calculations, Troubleshooting, Working Independently

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

Location

USA - Pennsylvania - West Point

Compensation

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$71,900.00 - $113,200.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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 .

Additional locations

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information

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

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: No relocation

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift: 1st - Day

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): Yes

Job Posting End Date: 11/13/2026

*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.

Requisition ID:R423712