Associate Specialist, Technical Operations Engineering

1000 Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. West Point, PA laboratory position supports multi-product vaccine manufacturing processes. The role collaborates with Operations, Technology and Quality to investigate products and drive continuous improvement in lab-scale studies.

The candidate will perform identification and characterization testing, manage documentation, and work in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team to meet aggressive timelines with a right-first-time approach.

Qualifications

• General knowledge of experimental preparation, execution, analysis, and safety.
• Good laboratory notebook practices and data review.
• Excellent written and oral communication; ability to work independently and cross-functionally.

Responsibilities

• Execute identification and characterization testing to support process optimization and investigations.
• Collaborate with Operations, Technology, QA and other groups to meet timelines.
• Communicate data across organizations and document results clearly.

Skills

Adaptability

Assay Development

Biochemistry

Biopharmaceutical Operations

Chemistry

Data Review

Design of Experiments

ELISA

Laboratory Analysis

Multitasking

Problem Solving

Process Improvements

Protein Quantification

Recombinant Proteins

Report Writing

Technical Calculations

Troubleshooting

Working Independently

Education

B.S./M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry

Tools

HPLC

UPLC

CE

SDS-PAGE

ELISA

Job description

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

Company Information

Our Manufacturing & Supply Division is committed to be the most trusted supplier of biopharmaceuticals worldwide. Our facilities, along with our external contractors, suppliers, and partners, create an interdependent global manufacturing network that is committed to delivering a high quality, reliable supply to customers and patients on time, every time.

Self-Employment and Mandatory Requirements

Self-Employment Self Self Mandatory Self Self Self Mandatory Mandatory Mandartory Mandartory Mandartory Self Self Mandatory Self Self Mandatory Self

Employment Details

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 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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

Compensation

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

Search Firm Policy

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.

Job Posting End Date

Job Posting End Date: 11/13/2026

Company Overview

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.