Senior Specialist Engineering

MSD; De Soto (KS); On-site; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

401(k) retirement

Job summary

MSD, located in the USA Kansas De Soto region, seeks a Senior Specialist, Bioprocess Engineer to lead end-to-end vaccine technology transfers and drive process robustness. This individual contributor will own regional knowledge management, risk assessment, and cross-functional project leadership while mentoring new hires and collaborating with manufacturing, quality, and governance teams.

The role emphasizes upstream/downstream processing, regulatory-compliant documentation, and continuous

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, chemical engineering, pharmacy or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred for advanced responsibilities.
• At least 5 years in biopharmaceutical or vaccine manufacturing, development or tech transfer.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate regional knowledge management for processes and transfer packages across sites.
• Lead regional vaccine tech transfers end-to-end with technical readiness.
• Identify mitigate technical risks ahead of transfer with data-driven plans.
• Lead cross-functional projects enabling transfer success and process performance.
• Train and mentor new hires; provide expert support to manufacturing and quality.

Skills

Tech transfer

Vaccine manufacturing

Bioprocessing

Process development

Regulated environments

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Training & mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Senior Specialist, Bioprocess Engineer

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Animal Health

As a Senior Specialist, Bioprocess Engineer, you will be part of a world-class team at our Center of Excellence in the Animal Health Corridor, contributing directly to the production of veterinary products that improve animal health and welfare globally.

The Senior Specialist in Bioprocess Engineering team will act as a key technical expert for vaccine manufacturing technology transfers within the region.

This individual contributor will lead end-to-end tech transfer of vaccine processes, ensuring robust, compliant, and efficient implementation at receiving sites.

The role is responsible for structured knowledge management, proactive technical risk assessment and mitigation ahead of transfers, and ongoing process robustness post-transfer.

The Senior Specialist will lead cross-functional technical projects (without direct reports), train and mentor new hires, and provide expert support to manufacturing, quality, and other partners on complex technical topics.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and own regional knowledge management implementation for assigned processes, ensuring consistent rollout and adoption across sites (e.g., transfer packages, playbooks, lessons learned, best practices) and effective knowledge sharing within the region.
• Lead regional vaccine technology transfers end-to-end, ensuring technical readiness and successful implementation at receiving sites.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks ahead of transfer execution through structured assessments and data-driven action plans.
• Lead cross-functional technical projects/workstreams that enable transfer success and improve process performance.
• Train and mentor new hires, strengthening team capability and consistent ways of working.
• Ensure post-transfer process robustness through monitoring, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement in partnership with sites and Quality.
• Deliver compliant technical documentation and clear stakeholder communication aligned with quality, regulatory and internal governance.

Education

Minimum Requirement: Bachelor’s degree with significant relevant experience in Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, or a related life science/engineering field. A Master’s degree preferred.

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum 5 years of experience in biopharmaceutical or vaccine manufacturing, process development, or technology transfer.
• Proven track record in leading tech transfer or major technical projects as an individual contributor.
• Strong understanding of upstream, downstream, fill-finish and/or lyophilization processes in vaccine or biopharma manufacturing.
• Experience in vaccine/biopharma-regulated environments
• Experience with process characterization, scale-up/scale-down, and process robustness.
• Technical and problem-solving skills to motivate cross-functional team responsible for implementation.
• Ability to train, coach, and influence others; strong problem-solving and decision-making.
• High degree of ownership, scientific rigor, and continuous improvement mindset.
• Proficiency in technical risk assessment and data analysis for process performance.
• Ability to prioritize, focus on and obtain business results.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Familiarity with USDA regulatory expectations.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills for diverse stakeholders.
• Strong project leadership and cross-functional collaboration without formal line authority.

Schedule Requirements

Able to work first shift, Monday through Friday as base schedule. Off-shift coverage may be required based on manufacturing/transfer activities.

What We’re Looking For

• Demonstrate execution excellence through effective problem-solving and critical thinking.
• Embrace an entrepreneurial mindset, taking initiative and ownership of their work.
• Adapt with agility and resilience in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Uphold a safety-first mindset, ensuring the well-being of themselves and their colleagues.

Why Join Us?

Be part of a transformative team that will shape the future of animal health. Work in a region renowned for its skilled workforce, strategic location, and robust infrastructure. Contribute to cutting-edge research and manufacturing of large-molecule vaccines and biologic products. Help us meet growing global demand for our portfolio of animal health solutions.

Required Skills

• Biologics, Biopharmaceuticals, Bioprocessing, Downstream Processing, Life Science, Process Development (PD), Technology Transfer, Vaccine Manufacturing

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.

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.

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.

Location and Compensation

The primary location for this posting is: USA - Kansas - De Soto

The salary range for the primary location of this role is: $117,000.00 - $184,200.00.

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

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.

Benefits

• 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.

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.

Employment Details

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: Domestic

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid

Shift: 1st - Day

Valid Driving License: Yes

Hazardous Material(s): N/A

Job Posting End Date: 11/7/2026

*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.

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.