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

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

Job summary

Merck & Co. in the USA, West Point, PA, seeks a Senior Specialist, Pilot Plant Automation Engineer to join the Biologics Pilot Plant Automation Engineering Group.

You will lead automation activities for pilot-scale GMP manufacturing campaigns, providing technical leadership for automation systems and driving implementation and continuous improvement in the pilot plant environment. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's in Engineering or CS and 5+ years of relevant experience, with at least

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years in automation engineering.
• Experience supporting GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for facility automation systems.
• Lead GMP automation projects from integration to startup.
• Author and review GMP documentation (Change controls, Test protocols, SDLC docs, SOPs, safety assessments, deviation investigations).
• Lead maintenance, lifecycle management, and upgrades of automation systems.
• Evaluate new automation technologies to improve reliability and performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a multidisciplinary project environment.
• Cross-train across multiple technologies, systems, and manufacturing processes.

Skills

Automation engineering

GMP operations

Cross-functional collaboration

Planning & organization

Technical leadership

Ignition/DeltaV

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering or CS

Tools

Jira

Confluence

MES

Virtualization

Windows administration

Cybersecurity

Job description

Senior Specialist, Pilot Plant Automation Engineer

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. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

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Primary Location

USA - Pennsylvania - West Point

Salary & Compensation

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.

Benefits

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.

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.