Lead Tech, Maintenance

Merck; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 86,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Benefits package

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Durham, North Carolina is seeking a Lead Tech, Engineering to support capital project startup and biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations.

The role spans end-to-end equipment support across filling, lyophilization, biotech culture, and utilities, with emphasis on maintenance, calibration, automation, and change control. The candidate will develop SOPs, support SAP transactions, and contribute to safety and quality initiatives while collaborating with operations, quality,

Qualifications

• Familiarity with GMP manufacturing operations.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and work on platforms.
• Proficient with MS Office and CMMS/maintenance databases.
• Experience with calibration, automation, validation testing.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine maintenance and troubleshoot complex process systems (filling, lyophilization, CIP, utilities).
• Assist with calibration, validation, and testing activities.
• Support root cause investigations and change control.
• Develop and implement SOPs and preventive maintenance plans.
• Maintain safety and compliance, including Hazardous Energy Control.

Skills

GMP familiarity

Communication skills

Physical stamina

Troubleshooting

Automation knowledge

Education

Bachelor Degree in Engineering or Science

2 years production/calibration/maintenance background (assoc. degree)

Tools

SAP

CMMS

PLCs

Allen Bradley PLCs

Job description

Job Description

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity with a rapidly growing pharmaceutical manufacturer? If so, then this is the opportunity for you! The Lead Tech, Engineering is a member of the Engineering team providing technical support within a capital project start-up in Durham, North Carolina. The new facility will include end-to-end processing of drug substance, drug product, including biotech culture growth, harvest, lyophilization, product inspection, utilities, and warehouse. The candidate will support the installation, operation, maintenance and/or troubleshooting of biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment such as washers, autoclaves, tanks, bioreactors, filtration skids, filling lines, lyophilizers and isolators. Develops Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Preventative Maintenance (PM) plans as requested. Responsible for SAP transactions, validation testing support, supporting root cause investigations and change control activities. Actively supports, participates and embraces an inclusive team culture including significant interaction with operations, quality, automation, technology, and other groups as required.

Key Duties

• Ability to perform routine maintenance tasks, work with and troubleshoot complex process systems, including but not limited to:
  • Process Equipment (e.g. Filling Machine, Lophilizer)
  • Support Equipment (e.g. washers, autoclaves, incubators)
  • Utility Equipment (e.g. Clean steam generators, Water-For-Injection generation/distribution, reverse osmosis skids, compressed gas systems)
  • Automated Systems (e.g. Distributed Control System (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC))
  • Clean-In-Place (CIP) Systems
  • Maintenance Equipment (e.g. tools and calibration equipment)
• Assist with execution of calibration, automation, validation and additional testing, as required
• Decisions are guided by policies, procedures and business plan; receives guidance from manager.
• Contributes to the performance and results of the department.
• Identifies and resolves technical and operational problems; collaborates with peers to resolve problems that cross into inter-related units
• Responsible for assisting in the identification, development, and implementation of new systems which enhances the operation and/or engineering processes.
• Adapt and implement departmental plans and priorities based on division scorecard to address local business, service and operational challenges

Quality & Safety Compliance

• Develop and execute engineering change request (ECRs), as necessary.
• The successful candidate should be able to examine an issue from perspectives (safety, compliance, automation, equipment, process, and people) in order to best understand and identify root cause.
• Provide input to investigate deviations, with responsibility to interface with approvers.
• Efficient and safe maintenance and repair of equipment using Hazardous Energy Control Procedures
• Required to wear personal protective equipment including safety glasses, earplugs, gloves, hard hats, safety harnesses, etc.
• Position requires clean room gowning during performance of job duties
• Actively supports safety initiatives, including shop floor audits, lockout/tagout and Hazardous Energy Control Procedure updates

Communication

• Interface with other departments, contractors and disciplines on scheduling repairs and maintenance of equipment/utility systems
• Support daily meetings to facilitate flow of information up/down through the organization
• Escalate issues as needed to ensure the right support/awareness is given to issues as they arise
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) during tours to provide area/process overview information to visitors/auditors upon request.
• Working as a SME, provide necessary training for system maintenance as needed.

Financial

• Order and maintain spare parts for assigned process equipment
• Ensure inventory transactions are complete, timely, and accurate
• Recognize and communicate opportunities for cost savings

Education Minimum Requirement

• Bachelor Degree in Engineering, Science or an associate degree and 2 years experience in a production and/or calibration and/or maintenance background

OR

• 6 years of plant maintenance experience with knowledge of technical craft skills (instrumentation, electrical, plumbing, advanced mechanical, HVAC, and/or multi-stage refrigeration systems).

Required Experience And Skills

• Familiarity of regulatory requirements in accordance with GMP manufacturing operations
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Physical requirements – Must be willing and able to lift 50 lbs, climb ladders and stairs, work on platforms and equipment above floor level. Walking, bending, crawling, and stooping is required.
• Proficiency in computer systems and applications including but not limited to: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Outlook), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), CMMS Calibration/Maintenance Database Systems
• Effective maintenance, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills required
• Routine shift will 3/2/2 12 hour day Available for “On-Call” work rotation (during off-hours) and weekend overtime, as needed.

Preferred Experience And Skills

• SAP experience related to plant maintenance and spare parts procurement systems
• cGMP experience in a sterile, bulk or finished pharmaceutical environment
• Experience authoring PM/calibration job plans and management of spare parts
• Installation, operation, maintenance and/or troubleshooting experience with biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment such as washers, autoclaves, skids, tanks, bioreactors, and filtration skids
• Ability to read P&ID's, electrical drawings, blueprints, etc.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and advance several tasks in parallel
• Knowledge of Allen Bradley PLC’s, Siemens Apogee BAS.

The salary range for this role is: $85,500-$134,700. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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.

Required Skills

Building Automation Systems, Building Automation Systems, Competency Management, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Corrective Maintenance, Electrical System Troubleshooting, Equipment Maintenance, HVAC Engineering, HVAC Maintenance, HVAC Systems, Hydraulic Systems, Instrumentation Systems, Instrument Calibrations, Inventory Management System, Lockout Tagout, Maintenance Scheduling, Maintenance Services, Manufacturing Equipment, Manufacturing Maintenance, Material Handling Equipment, Mechanical Troubleshooting, Parts Inventory, Parts Sourcing, People Management, Plant Maintenance {+ 10 more}

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.

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 Representatives Please Read Carefully

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.

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)

n/a

Job Posting End Date

11/17/2026

• 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

R417995