Operational Excellence Process Engineer

Merck KGaA; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 102,000 - 154,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off (PTO)

Retirement contributions

Other perquisites

Job summary

Merck KGaA (EMD Electronics) in Carlsbad, CA seeks an onsite OE Process Engineer to drive productivity improvements in Synthesis/Purification. Expect ~10% travel to support business needs and collaborate with the OE Global Network, Digital Transformation, and Manufacturing teams.

You will apply Lean Six Sigma with data storytelling to unlock value, mentor site teams, and deliver scalable process improvements. Requires a BS in Chemical Engineering, 5+ years, Green Belt with DFSS/DMAIC/RCCA/FMEA.

Qualifications

• BS in Chemical Engineering, Process Technology, Chemistry or any Engineering degree.
• 5+ years in manufacturing/Process Engineering with Lean Six Sigma.
• Green Belt certified with DFSS, DMAIC, RCCA, and FMEA.

Responsibilities

• Lead productivity initiatives across SYN/PUR product lines; develop Value Stream Maps and DMS; drive RCCA and FMEA.
• Leverage dashboards and data platforms to improve OEE, throughput, and quality; enable data-driven decisions.
• Own Management of Change for OE implementations; design and deliver training on lean tools and digital tools.
• Define and track KPIs; provide leadership reporting and remediation plans.
• Support technology transfer, startup activities, and scale-up learnings across product lines.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Process Engineering

Problem Solving

Data storytelling

Change management

Education

BS in Chemical Engineering or related

Tools

Palantir Foundry

SPC/SQC

Job description

ID 301110

Carlsbad, California, United States

Work Your Magic with us! Start your next chapter and join EMD Electronics.

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

Everything we do in EMD Electronics is to help us deliver on our purpose of being the company behind the companies, advancing digital living. We are dedicated to being the trusted supplier of high-tech materials, services and specialty chemicals for the electronics, automotive and cosmetics industries. We foster a global collaborative organization made up of individuals who have the passion to win, obsess about the customer, are relentlessly curious and act with urgency. Together, we push the boundaries of science to make more possible for our customers.

This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

Your Role:

The Operational Excellence (OE) Process Engineer is an onsite position in Carlsbad, CA.Approximately 10% of domestic and international travel is necessary to support business needs.

This role provides you with the opportunity to apply analytical thinking, data-driven storytelling, and stakeholder influence to unlock the highest-value productivity opportunities for our Carlsbad Synthesis/Purification Operations (Thin Films and Specialty Gas). You will drive measurable productivity improvements by integrating Lean Six Sigma with Digital Solutions to deliver safe, reliable, and customer-focused outcomes. Collaborating with the OE Global Network, Digital Transformation, Operations, Maintenance, Process Development, and Global Engineering, you will deliver quick wins and identify longer-term OE and digital opportunities tracked in our internal systems. You’ll lead data access and analytics enablement to accelerate productivity across SVM/HVM processes, container builds, and New Product Launch optimization.

Key Responsibilities:

• OE Leadership and Productivity: Lead productivity initiatives across SYN/PUR product lines; develop and maintain Value Stream Maps (VSMs) & Daily Management Systems (DMS); drive process variation reduction (RCCAs, FMEA, DOE).
• Digital Transformation and Data-Enabled Performance: Leverage dashboards, apps, and data platforms to access and interpret critical process data; apply SPC and analytics to improve OEE, throughput, and quality. Collaborate with Digital Solutions and Data & Digital IT (DDIT) to accelerate data access, data quality, and analytics readiness for manufacturing decisions.
• Change Management and Capability Building: Own Management of Change (MOC) for OE implementations; design and deliver training on VSM, DMS, RCA, 5S, DOE, and digital tools; mentor site teams in problem-solving and data storytelling.
• Governance, Metrics, and Reporting: Define and track KPIs (e.g., WAVE-related productivity, cycle time, scrap, yield, on-time delivery); provide regular leadership reporting; escalation risks and opportunities with clear remediation plans.
• Technology Transfer, Start-up & Scaling: Support technology transfer from pilot to commercial scale; contribute to commissioning/start-up activities for OE-driven projects; capture learnings for future scale-up across product lines.

Who You Are:

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS in Chemical Engineering, Process Technology, Chemistry or any Engineering degree
• 5+ years in manufacturing/Process Engineering along with Lean Six Sigma experience with demonstrated problem-solving across chemical/physical processing environments
• Green Belt certified with hands‑on experience applying DFSS, DMAIC, RCCA, and FMEA

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in Chemical Engineering or similar field
• Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification
• Data analytics experience (e.g., SPC/SQC, multivariate analysis) and familiarity with data platforms (e.g., Palantir Foundry or similar)
• Experience in technology transfer (small-to-large scale), commissioning/start-up, and operations of systems used in electronics materials manufacturing (synthesis, purification, filling, storage)
• Knowledge of semiconductor materials, packaging, processes, and customer experience
• Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills; effective communicator across operators, engineers, and leadership
• Ability to thrive in a matrixed team, partner with multiple functions, and manage change with stakeholders
• Data literacy: experience with data storytelling, basic analytics, and using real time data to drive decisions

Base Pay Range for this position- $102,300-$153,500

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. For more information click here.

Benefits

• health insurance
• paid time off (PTO)
• retirement contributions
• other perquisites

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

US Equal Employment Opportunities

The Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. No employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, gender identity, transgender status, marital status, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy of Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all policies and programs relating to recruitment and hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, discipline, termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Any applicant or employee who believes they have been discriminated against by the Company or anyone acting on behalf of the Company must report any concerns to their Human Resources Business Partner, Legal, or Compliance immediately. The Company will not retaliate against any individual because they made a good faith report of discrimination.