Technician (Technical), Operations

Merck & Co.; Wilson (NC); On-site; USD 58,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in the United States is seeking a Technician (Technical), Operations to operate, maintain and troubleshoot manufacturing and packaging equipment.

You will follow cGMP and SOPs, complete line clearance tasks, and assist maintenance to ensure safe, efficient production of high-quality products. The role requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure with a multi-shift schedule.

Qualifications

• More than 2 years of experience in a GMP manufacturing facility.
• Experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and/or repairing industrial equipment.
• Basic mechanical and electrical system understanding.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot equipment using a systematic approach.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Must be willing to work various shifts.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain manufacturing and packaging equipment to achieve production standards.
• Complete line clearance, cleaning and inspection including required documentation.
• Set up and adjust equipment to ensure proper alignment and clearances.
• Assist maintenance with routine and non-routine maintenance tasks and parts retrieval.
• Perform visual inspections and document production areas during line clearance and in-process checks.
• Respond as first line to equipment malfunctions and process issues, diagnose and adjust to restore operation.
• Escalate unresolved line issues per guidelines to maintain efficiency.
• Support compliance with cGMP, SOPs and safety policies.

Skills

GMP Regulations

Equipment Troubleshooting

Lean Manufacturing

Quality Control

Safety Awareness

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

SAP

MES

Electronic Logbook

Job description

Job Description

The Technician (Technical), Operations role is an excellent opportunity for individuals with experience in manufacturing and/or packaging operations who are proficient with basic mechanical/electrical equipment troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair. This role will serve as the first responder to challenges that arise with manufacturing and packaging equipment, effectively diagnosing and addressing technical issues.

Key responsibilities include following manufacturing and packaging requirements, adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and completing daily tasks according to established procedures under the Operations Manager’s guidance while collaborating with team members to ensure safe and timely production of high-quality products.

The Technician (Technical) position will operate equipment, setup equipment, perform equipment challenges, monitor quality during production, clean work areas, and move materials accurately and efficiently. The position will also have responsibilities including routine and non‑routine equipment / process troubleshooting, process monitoring, and alarm response, all aimed at maintaining operational efficiency and product quality.

This position requires a proactive individual with strong technical skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to think critically under pressure.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in enhancing the operational integrity of manufacturing and packaging processes, contributing to the production of high-quality products in a safe and efficient environment.

Primary Activities

Operation

Operate and maintain various manufacturing and packaging equipment to routinely achieve production standards while following GMPs and SOPs.

Complete effective line clearance, cleaning and inspection including the completion of required documentation.

Setup and adjust the equipment by using appropriate tools to ensure proper alignment and proper clearances.

Maintains and transports all required processing equipment, materials, supplies and products needed to support manufacturing and packaging.

Perform and document equipment challenges per current procedures.

Perform visual inspections of products, packaging, and production areas during line clearance, in-process checks, repackaging, and material reintroduction. These tasks require distinguishing fine visual details, printed information, and product or component colors.

Act as first responder to equipment malfunctions and process issues; diagnose issues, make necessary adjustments to return the equipment to a functional state.

Escalate any unresolved line issues per established guidelines to ensure efficient operations performance.

Proactively identifies potential production issues and takes action to prevent occurrence.

Assist maintenance personnel with routine and non‑routine equipment maintenance and repairs, including helping with performing maintenance tasks, initiating work orders and retrieving parts from the stockroom as required.

Cleans and lubricates machines periodically and performs other basic maintenance work required (ie. wiping off sensors, recharging process fluids, etc.) to assure the efficient operation of all equipment.

Organize, clean and maintain the designated work area to ensure a clean and orderly working environment.

Carry out Our Company’s site mission by assuring finished goods and services are of the highest quality, optimal cost, and delivered on schedule.

Compliance

Conduct all manufacturing and packaging operations in accordance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), site Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Divisional policies and guidelines.

Follow health and safety policies, including proper gowning procedures and the use of safety equipment.

Take accountability for personal and others' safety by reporting and resolving unsafe conditions.

Strictly adheres to all site policies on personal conduct and attendance.

Promptly identify and report any compliance, environmental, safety, and process deviations as appropriate and escale to appropriate personnel.

Actively participate in and complete EHS and quality‑related compliance training in a timely manner.

Maintains work area in constant state of compliance with respect to proper housekeeping, material segregation, and personal gowning including required personal protective equipment.

Document manufacturing and packaging activities in accordance with Good Documentation Practices including ensuring data integrity requirements are met Document equipment changes per cGMP procedures within appropriate system.

Assist in the investigation, root cause determination, and CAPA implementation for equipment related compliance discrepancies noted during day to day activities and/or audits.

Collaboration and Teamwork

Collaborates with peers and other employees at various levels throughout the organization to achieve company, site and departmental goals.

Maintain a culture of continuous improvement / MPS focused on standard work, making problems visible, minimizing waste, reducing process variability, and problem solving.

Participate in quality and safety investigations, improvement activities, and projects to improve manufacturing and packaging operation processes.

Attends and actively participates in safety & housekeeping walkthroughs, 5S, GEMBA, or any other operations, lean six‑sigma, quality, safety or environmental training/initiatives as required.

Participates in projects to enhance manufacturing and packaging equipment functionality and operational processes.

Train other team members regarding the basic response for common faults and errors.

Help to develop and improve setup and troubleshooting standard work. Pursue knowledge and skills in assigned area from an operations and equipment maintenance perspective and share that information readily with team.

Actively identifies and drives problem resolution and implements feasible solutions for opportunities and issues identified by the team.

Participate in new equipment installations by interfacing with equipment vendors, partnering with project engineering on testing/qualification activities, recommending spare parts, and assisting with the review of preventative maintenance plans.

Skills

Education Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent

Requirements

More than 2 years of experience in a GMP manufacturing facility.

Experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and/or repairing industrial equipment.

Basic mechanical and electrical system understanding.

Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot equipment utilizing a systematic approach to understand problems and determine appropriate solutions.

Demonstrated ability to work independently as a team member.

Demonstrated ability to work with computerized and automated systems.

Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

Must be willing to work various shifts.

Must be willing to work irregular hours to support multi‑shift operation and/or weekends as needed.

Must pass a vision exam and be free of color blindness.

Must be equivalent to 20/20 correctable close vision acuity.

Must be medically cleared and physically capable of passing annual occupational health evaluations for respirator usage, including use of a PAPR (Powered Air‑Purifying Respirator).

Required Skills

Accountability, Accountability, cGMP Regulations, Cleaning Equipment, Computer Literacy, Continuous Improvement, Direct Instruction, Equipment Installations, Equipment Maintenance, Equipment Management, Equipment Set Up, Equipment Troubleshooting, Good Documentation Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Independent Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Quality Control, Materials Handling, Mechanical Maintenance, Operational Efficiency, Operational Integrity, Operation Maintenance, Operations Processes, Packaging, Packaging Equipment {+ 19 more}

Preferred Skills

Maintenance experience within a GMP regulated environment.

Experience in Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Problem Solving, and/or Right First‑Time methodologies.

SAP / MES / electronic logbook basic knowledge from a production execution perspective.

Outstanding communication skills both within direct team and across multiple shifts to ensure success of overall team.

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.

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.

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

Relocation: No relocation

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift: 3rd - Night

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): na

Job Posting End Date: 11/5/2026

*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: R423332

The salary range for this role is: $57,900 - $91,200

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.