Lead Automation Engineer, Pharma Manufacturing

MSD Malaysia; Virginia, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) retirement

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Virginia seeks a Senior Manufacturing Automation Engineer to lead automation support for pharma manufacturing and labs, including DCS/ PLC, MES, data historians, and batch reporting.

You will drive upgrades, ensure system quality, and collaborate across Operations, Quality, and Technical groups to resolve complex issues. You will mentor junior engineers, develop SOPs, and support audits while maintaining cGMP and safety standards across shifts, with opportunities for remote

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or IT required.
• Experience in automation and GMP-compliant pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of DCS, PLC, PI, SQL, and batch systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide lead automation support for manufacturing and lab systems (DCS, PLC, MES, data historians).
• Lead automation upgrade projects and new installations.
• Ensure quality and stability of automation through expansion or upgrades.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, and Tech groups to solve complex issues.
• Troubleshoot equipment/automation issues to improve performance and compliance.
• Provide off-hour coverage and on-the-floor troubleshooting.
• Mentor junior engineers and develop SOPs for automation.
• Oversee investigations of automation deviations and corrective actions.

Skills

Audit Management

Automation Solutions

Business Integrity

Business Process Improvements

Corrective Action Management

Data Management

Distributed Control System (DCS)

Global Health

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Preventive Maintenance

Problem Management

Process Engineering

Quality Management

Real-Time Programming

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

System Maintenance

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or Information Technology

Tools

DeltaV

PLC

PI

SQL

Infobatch

Job description

Merck & Co., Inc. in Virginia seeks a Senior Manufacturing Automation Engineer to lead automation support for pharma manufacturing and labs, including DCS/ PLC, MES, data historians, and batch reporting.

You will drive upgrades, ensure system quality, and collaborate across Operations, Quality, and Technical groups to resolve complex issues. You will mentor junior engineers, develop SOPs, and support audits while maintaining cGMP and safety standards across shifts, with opportunities for remote