Sr. Tech, Maintenance

MSD; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 78,000 - 122,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD in Durham, NC is seeking a Production Technician to support biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment and processes. You will assist with installation, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of equipment across multiple systems, including bioreactors, filling lines, and cleaning processes.

The role requires GMP knowledge, PLC/PLCs, CMMS, and SAP experience, plus the ability to work 12-hour shifts and on-call rotations as needed.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED and 3 years of plant maintenance experience.
• Familiarity with GMP regulatory requirements for manufacturing.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and work on platforms and at height.
• Proficient with PLCs, CMMS, and data systems; strong problem-solving.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine maintenance and troubleshoot complex process systems.
• Support calibration, automation, validation, and testing activities.
• Interface with operations, quality, automation and other groups.
• Maintain spare parts inventory and execute CAPA/changes when required.
• Work 1st shift with 12 hour days; on-call and weekend overtime as needed.

Skills

GMP knowledge

PLC programming

CMMS

SAP experience

P&ID reading

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens BAS

Multi-craft skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

SAP

CMMS

PLC programming

Job description

03 Production Technician

The Senior Tech, Engineering is a member of the Engineering team providing technical support within a capital project start-up in Durham, North Carolina. The new facility will include end-to-end processing of drug substance, drug product, including biotech culture growth, harvest, lyophilization, product inspection, utilities, and warehouse.

The candidate will support the installation, operation, maintenance and/or troubleshooting of biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment such as washers, autoclaves, tanks, bioreactors, filtration skids, filling lines, lyophilizers and isolators. Develops Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Preventative Maintenance (PM) plans as requested. Responsible for SAP transactions, validation testing support, supporting root cause investigations and change control activities. Actively supports, participates and embraces an inclusive team culture including significant interaction with operations, quality, automation, technology, and other groups as required.

Key Duties

• Ability to perform routine maintenance tasks, work with and troubleshoot complex process systems, including but not limited to:
• Process Equipment (e.g. Filling Machine, Lophilizer)
• Support Equipment (e.g. washers, autoclaves, incubators)
• Utility Equipment (e.g. Clean steam generators, Water-For-Injection generation/distribution, reverse osmosis skids, compressed gas systems)
• Automated Systems (e.g. Distributed Control System (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC))
• Clean-In-Place (CIP) Systems
• Maintenance Equipment (e.g. tools and calibration equipment)
• Assist with execution of calibration, automation, validation and additional testing, as required
• Decisions are guided by policies, procedures and business plan; receives guidance from manager.
• Contributes to the performance and results of the department.
• Identifies and resolves technical and operational problems; collaborates with peers to resolve problems that cross into inter-related units
• Responsible for assisting in the identification, development, and implementation of new systems which enhances the operation and/or engineering processes.
• Adapts and implements departmental plans and priorities based on division scorecard to address local business, service and operational challenges

Quality & Safety Compliance

• Develop and execute engineering change request (ECRs), as necessary.
• The successful candidate should be able to examine an issue from perspectives (safety, compliance, automation, equipment, process, and people) in order to best understand and identify root cause.
• Provide input to investigate deviations, with responsibility to interface with approvers.
• Efficient and safe maintenance and repair of equipment using Hazardous Energy Control Procedures
• Required to wear personal protective equipment including safety glasses, earplugs, gloves, hard hats, safety harnesses, etc.
• Position requires clean room gowning during performance of job duties
• Actively supports safety initiatives, including shop floor audits, lockout/tagout and Hazardous Energy Control Procedure updates

Communication

• Interface with other departments, contractors and disciplines on scheduling repairs and maintenance of equipment/utility systems
• Support daily meetings to facilitate flow of information up/down through the organization
• Escalate issues as needed to ensure the right support/awareness is given to issues as they arise
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) during tours to provide area/process overview information to visitors/auditors upon request.
• Working as a SME, provide necessary training for system maintenance as needed.

Financial

• Order and maintain spare parts for assigned process equipment
• Ensure inventory transactions are complete, timely, and accurate
• Recognize and communicate opportunities for cost savings

Education Minimum Requirement

High School Diploma or GED Equivalent, 3 years of plant maintenance experience with knowledge of technical craft skills (instrumentation, electrical, plumbing, advanced mechanical, HVAC, and/or multi-stage refrigeration systems).

Required Experience and Skills

• Familiarity of regulatory requirements in accordance with GMP manufacturing operations
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Physical requirements – Must be willing and able to lift 50 lbs, climb ladders and stairs, work on platforms and equipment above floor level. Walking, bending, crawling, and stooping is required.
• Proficiency in computer systems and applications including but not limited to: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Outlook), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), CMMS Calibration/Maintenance Database Systems
• Effective maintenance, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills required
• Routine shift will 3/2/2 12 hour day or night shift. Available for “On-Call” work rotation (during off-hours) and weekend overtime, as needed.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• SAP experience related to plant maintenance and spare parts procurement systems
• cGMP experience in a sterile, bulk or finished pharmaceutical environment
• Experience authoring PM/calibration job plans and management of spare parts
• Installation, operation, maintenance and/or troubleshooting experience with biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment such as washers, autoclaves, skids, tanks, bioreactors, and filtration skids
• Ability to read P&ID's, electrical drawings, blueprints, etc.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and advance several tasks in parallel
• Knowledge of Allen Bradley PLC’s, Siemens Apogee BAS.

Preferred Skills

• Competency Management, Competency Management, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Computer Literacy, Corrective Maintenance, Electrical Maintenance, Equipment Commissioning, Equipment Maintenance, HVAC Systems, Hydraulic Systems, Instrumentation Systems, Instrument Calibrations, Inventory Management System, Lockout Tagout, Maintenance Scheduling, Maintenance Services, Managing Engineering Teams, Manufacturing Maintenance, Material Handling Equipment, Mechanical Maintenance, Parts Inventory, Parts Sourcing, Plant Maintenance, PLC Programming, Pneumatic Systems {+ 10 more}

Salary

The salary range for this role is: $77,700-$122,300

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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

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:

EEOC Information

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement

Legal and Residency Notes

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

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

Job Posting Details

• Employee Status: Regular
• Relocation: No relocation
• VISA Sponsorship: No
• Travel Requirements: No Travel Required
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable
• Shift: 1st - Day
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): n/a
• Job Posting End Date: 10/15/2026*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.