Senior Specialist - Biologics Pilot Plant Automation Engineer (On-site)

Merck & Co.; Upper Gwynedd Township (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. is seeking a Senior Specialist, Pilot Plant Automation Engineer to lead and execute automation activities supporting pilot-scale GMP manufacturing campaigns for bulk biologics and vaccines.

The role requires technical leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to implement, qualify, and continuously improve automation solutions in the pilot plant environment. The position emphasizes hands-on experience with Ignition and DeltaV, GMP documentation, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years in automation engineering.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for automation systems in pilot plant environments.
• Serve as automation SME for GMP clinical manufacturing campaigns.
• Lead integration, commissioning, qualification, and startup of new equipment and automation projects.
• Author, review, and approve GMP documentation (Change controls, Test protocols, SDLC docs, SOPs, safety assessments, deviations).
• Lead maintenance, lifecycle management, and upgrade initiatives for automation systems.
• Evaluate and implement new automation technologies to improve plant reliability and efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a multidisciplinary project environment.
• Cross-train across multiple technologies, systems, and manufacturing processes.

Skills

Adaptability

Automation

Data Analysis

Detail‑Oriented

Deviation Management

Device Integration

Equipment Implementation

Equipment Qualification

GMP

Pilot Plant Operations

PHA

Process Optimization

Strategic Thinking

Technical Problem‑Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Computer Science or related

Tools

Ignition

DeltaV

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Job Description

Role Overview:

We are seeking a Senior Specialist, Pilot Plant Automation Engineer to join the Research & Development Division Biologics Pilot Plant Automation Engineering Group. This individual will lead and execute automation activities that support pilot-scale GMP manufacturing campaigns for bulk biologics, including vaccines and therapeutic proteins used in clinical development. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership for automation systems, support clinical manufacturing operations, and drive the implementation, qualification, and continuous improvement of automation solutions within the pilot plant environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and ongoing support for facility automation systems.
• Serve as the automation subject matter expert for GMP clinical manufacturing campaigns.
• Lead and/or execute the integration, commissioning, qualification, and startup of new equipment and automation projects.
• Author, review, and approve GMP documentation, including: Change controls Test protocols SDLC documentation Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Safety assessments Deviation investigations and corrective actions
• Lead maintenance, lifecycle management, and upgrade initiatives for automation systems.
• Evaluate and implement new automation technologies to improve plant reliability, efficiency, and operational performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a multidisciplinary project environment.
• Cross-train across multiple technologies, systems, and manufacturing processes to expand technical expertise.

Minimum Education Requirement:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years of automation engineering.

Required Experience and Skills

• Strong motivation and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Hands-on automation experience with Ignition and/or DeltaV platforms.
• Experience supporting GMP manufacturing operations within the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, or vaccine industry.
• Strong organizational, planning, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within cross-functional teams.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience with manufacturing equipment automation, process control systems, and/or process hazard analysis (PHA).
• Experience integrating equipment automation systems with enterprise IT‑managed environments, including: Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Virtualized environments Industrial networking infrastructure Windows administration Cybersecurity, patching, and antivirus management
• Familiarity with project management methodologies, including Agile and Waterfall.
• Experience using project management and collaboration tools such as Jira, Confluence, RACI matrices, and Gantt-based planning tools.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Automation, Data Analysis, Detail‑Oriented, Deviation Management, Device Integration, Equipment Implementation, Equipment Qualification, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Pilot Plant Operations, Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Process Optimization, Strategic Thinking, Technical Problem‑Solving

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.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. --As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. - For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another's thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The primary location for this posting is:

USA - Pennsylvania - West Point

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$117,000.00 - $184,200.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

Additional location(s):

Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Job Posting End Date:

11/12/2026

*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:

R424352