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

1000 Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental

Vision and other insurance for you and

Family

401(k) retirement

Paid holidays

Vacation

Sick days

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. seeks a Senior Specialist, Pilot Plant Automation Engineer to join the Biologics Pilot Plant Automation Engineering Group.

You will lead automation activities supporting pilot-scale GMP manufacturing for bulk biologics and vaccines, providing technical leadership for automation systems and driving continual improvement. The role requires 5+ years of relevant experience including 3+ years in automation, with hands-on Ignition/DeltaV experience and GMP manufacturing expertise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years in automation engineering.
• Hands-on automation experience with Ignition and/or DeltaV platforms.
• Experience supporting GMP manufacturing operations in pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical/vaccine industries.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Adaptability

Automation

Data Analysis

Detail-oriented

Deviation Management

Device Integration

Equipment Implementation

Equipment Qualification

GMP

Pilot Plant Operations

Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)

Process Optimization

Strategic Thinking

Technical Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline

Tools

Ignition

DeltaV

MES

Jira

Confluence

Windows administration

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

Minimum Education Requirement: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.

Required Experience and Skills

Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years of automation engineering.

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

Location

The primary location for this posting is: USA - Pennsylvania - West Point

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: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement 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

Compensation

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.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision Healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• Paid holidays
• Vacation
• Compassionate and sick days

More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

Location Compensation Information

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.

Fair Chance Ordinance (San Francisco)

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

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.

Company Summary

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.