Job Description

The Microbial Process Operations (MPO) Team is seeking a Specialist to support operations for enzyme process development and characterization. Our team is part of Continuous & Expression Technologies (CET) within the Process Research & Development – Enabling Technologies (PR&D – ET) group, focused on advancing technologies for the manufacturing of diverse biomolecules, including novel biotherapeutics, vaccines, and engineered enzymes. The Specialist will execute scientific and operational activities to support the development of robust, scalable, and compliant microbial processes.

The chosen candidate should possess strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills, and should embrace and model our core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion and foster a supportive culture where all employees can thrive.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Execute and analyze fermentation experiments at multiple scales (e.g., mini bioreactors, benchtop bioreactors, pilot scale), ensuring high-quality, reproducible results.

• Perform downstream processing operations to ensure efficient enzyme recovery and purification, delivering enzyme powders that meet quality and yield specifications.

• Maintain timely, accurate, and comprehensive documentation of all experimental work and process data in compliance with company standards.

• Troubleshoot routine issues related to bioreactor and downstream process operations to ensure consistent, reliable, and robust operations; escalate and collaborate on more complex issues with senior team members.

• Contribute to process improvement initiatives aimed at improving process efficiency, reproducibility, and scalability.

• Support implementation and maintenance of automation, data pipelines, and process analytical technologies.

• Follow and promote laboratory safety, compliance, and operational best practices, supporting a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support technology transfer and scale-up activities.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Master’s degree with at least 1 year of relevant industry experience, or

• Bachelor’s degree with 2+ years of relevant industry experience in chemical engineering, bioengineering, biological sciences, or related fields.

Requirements:

• Working knowledge of aseptic techniques and fermentation process control strategies for batch and fed-batch processes.

• Experience operating and troubleshooting automated bioreactors at various scales, including mini bioreactors, bench scale, or pilot scale systems; ability to follow established SOPs and escalate equipment and process issues appropriately.

• Understanding of common analytical technologies for biomass, metabolite measurement, and off-gas analysis.

• Solid organizational, documentation, and problem-solving skills, with a strong commitment to maintaining rigorous safety and quality standards.

• Ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams, building working relationships across the department.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Hands-on experience with ambr250, bench-scale, or pilot scale bioreactors.

• Understanding of microbial strain development and genetic engineering techniques to support process optimization.

• Familiarity with downstream unit operations and basic protein purification concepts sufficient to perform routine operations and sample handling.

• Experience with design of experiments, data analysis, and data visualization tools to support process optimization.

• Experience supporting tech transfer or scale-up activities from R&D to pilot scale.

• Experience working in a regulated environment (e.g., cGMP) supporting biopharmaceutical or enzyme manufacturing processes.

To learn more about the PRD team, click: Join Our Process Research & Development Team.

PRD

#eligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Analytical Instrumentation, Aseptics, Automation Systems, Biological Sciences, Bioprocessing, cGMP Compliance, Change Control Processes, Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Communications, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Data Analysis, Detail-Oriented, Electrical Systems, Immunochemistry, Laboratory Safety, Maintenance Supervision, Mechanical Systems, Operational Excellence, Process Control, Process Improvement Projects, Protein Purifications, Regulatory Compliance, Statistical Design of Experiments (DOE) {+ 1 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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.

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$85,600.00 - $134,800.00

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.

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.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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:

Domestic

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:

10/7/2025

*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.