Director, Digital Shop Floor & Manufacturing Platforms

Merck & Co.

Rahway (NJ)

On-site

USD 173,000 - 273,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Job summary

Merck & Co. is seeking a Senior Manufacturing IT Leader to drive the Digital Shop Floor product line and Manufacturing Systems Centers of Excellence. You will own roadmaps, lead global deployments, and ensure compliant, scalable solutions across sites.

Strong leadership and a history of delivering value in biopharma manufacturing are essential. Responsibilities include mentoring teams, shaping technology roadmaps, and collaborating with operations, quality, and IT partners to elevate digital

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Technology, or related areas of study.
5+ years' experience implementing and operating digital shop floor systems (DCS/SCADA/PLC, OSI PI, MES, LIMS) in the biopharmaceutical industry.
5+ years' direct leadership experience managing technical professionals, with proven mentorship and team-building skills.
Strong technical background in process control, computer networking, and manufacturing process control applications.
Deep understanding of SDLC and computerized system validation in regulated environments.
Experience building technology roadmaps and working with solution architects and cyber security to deploy secure, scalable solutions.
In-depth knowledge of major MES, LIMS, and data historian platforms used in biopharma.
Proven ability to influence and collaborate in a matrixed, global organization and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Strong financial acumen, including management of capital and operating budgets.
Continuous improvement and growth mindset; strong leadership, integrity, and energy.

Responsibilities

Lead the Digital Shop Floor product line and Manufacturing Systems Centers of Excellence to deliver robust, compliant, and effective Manufacturing IT solutions.
Own and continuously refine product and technology roadmaps aligned with manufacturing digital strategies and enterprise standards.
Direct the deployment and scale-up of Digital Shop Floor solutions globally; ensure standardized, efficient, and compliant implementations.
Drive adoption and ongoing evolution of existing solutions, ensuring they are fully operationalized and deliver measurable business value.
Identify new use cases and applications for existing technologies (e.g., MES, LIMS, historians, analytics) and lead proof-of-concepts and pilots to validate them.
Scan for and evaluate emerging digital, automation, and analytics technologies; pioneer selected innovations and scale successful pilots.
Collaborate closely with manufacturing operations, capital automation, quality, engineering, and IT Business Technology Partners to understand needs and enhance the digital posture.
Define and promote standard, compliant implementation patterns for shop floor and lab solutions, supporting capital projects and site expansions.
Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of product owners/managers and technical professionals (including contractors/partners) across multiple sites or hubs.