Automation Support Specialist - Entry-Level, 24/7 Ops

MSD Malaysia; Virginia, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Merck & Co. in Elkton, VA is seeking entry-level Automation Associate Specialist to support and sustain manufacturing operations on a 24/7 basis. You will provide hands-on automation technical support, troubleshoot PLCs, DCS, and OEM platforms, and contribute to safety and compliance in a high-stakes pharmaceutical setting.

The role emphasizes problem-solving, continuous learning, and collaboration within a cross-functional team, onsite in a world-class manufacturing campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Science, or Business.
• Strong problem-solving and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work onsite in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on automation technical support across the manufacturing site on 12-hour shifts.
• Serve as the initial point of contact for shop-floor automation support calls.
• Troubleshoot and support PLCs, DCS, and OEM automation platforms.
• Diagnose and resolve automation issues impacting yield, cycle time, reliability.
• Maintain automation systems in compliance with cGMPs.

Skills

Automation

Manufacturing

Electrical Engineering

Problem Management

SDLC

Real-Time Programming

Data Management

Education

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

Tools

Emerson DeltaV

Allen-Bradley PLCs

OSI-PI

SQL

Infobatch

Job description

Merck & Co. in Elkton, VA is seeking entry-level Automation Associate Specialist to support and sustain manufacturing operations on a 24/7 basis. You will provide hands-on automation technical support, troubleshoot PLCs, DCS, and OEM platforms, and contribute to safety and compliance in a high-stakes pharmaceutical setting.

The role emphasizes problem-solving, continuous learning, and collaboration within a cross-functional team, onsite in a world-class manufacturing campus.