Job Description

The Senior Automation Specialist provides end-to-end automation and quality engineering support for the Rahway, NJ FLEx (Formulation, Laboratory & Experimentation) center, with a primary focus on sterile clinical manufacturing within Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharm Sci), Pharmaceutical Operations Engineering (Pharm Ops Engineering). The role ensures reliable, compliant operation of process automation and OT/IT systems that enable formulation, filling, and support activities for clinical and development sterile products. This position supports start-up operations (FLEx) and new capital builds, including automation lifecycle management, data/analytics, and site representation on capital projects. Some off-shift work (second shift and weekends) will be required to support manufacturing operations.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Maintain automation systems in a validated, compliant state per cGMP, Safety, data integrity, cybersecurity, and lifecycle best practices (commissioning, qualification, change control, obsolescence, periodic reviews)

• Provide end-to-end operations support for sterile clinical manufacturing (formulation and filling), including on-floor troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and performance/batch reliability improvements

• Implement and sustain platform automation solutions, reporting, and visualization to meet operational and compliance needs; keep documentation, SOPs, drawings, configurations, PMs, and inventories inspection-ready

• Lead and participate in automation system changes, investigations, CAPAs; represent automation and data integrity during internal/external audits and inspections

• Serve as site automation representative for new products, process changes, and operational improvements; lead cross-functional teams and participate in tier meetings to drive continuous improvement

• Represent automation in capital projects, embedding OT/IT architecture, cybersecurity, data integrity, and validation requirements in project scope and deliverables

• Lead and coordinate installation, integration, FAT/SAT, commissioning, and qualification of new automated equipment and systems; author/execute URS/DS/IQ/OQ/PQ

• Evaluate and plan automation/IT expansions, replacements, upgrades, and obsolescence remediation to ensure quality, stability, scalability, and supportability

• Partner with enterprise/divisional IT, global infrastructure, and risk/security to align standards and manage user/role administration, patching, backups, disaster recovery, and virtualization in GMP operations

• Collaborate with GES, FM/GWES, Quality, Manufacturing Operations, OEMs, system integrators, and vendors to deliver reliable, compliant automation operations; supervise and coordinate contract engineers/vendors and manage workload and deliverables

• Develop and support data, reporting, analytics, and visualization solutions using historian/SCADA sources to monitor asset health and drive reliability improvements

• Troubleshoot across controls, instrumentation, electrical, software, and industrial networking layers; apply lean and continuous improvement principles to stabilize and optimize automation performance

Education Minimum Requirement:

• BS in Engineering, Science, or Information Systems, plus a minimum of 5 years of related technical support or manufacturing automation experience or acceptable related experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Strong knowledge of cGMP, Quality Systems, Safety, Environmental, data integrity, and validation principles for automation and computer systems

• Hands-on experience maintaining validated automation systems, executing change control, investigations/CAPA, periodic reviews, system administration (e.g., user/role management, patching, backups, virtualization), and cybersecurity within GMP operations

• Proficiency with PLC/SCADA and industrial networking fundamentals; ability to troubleshoot across controls, instrumentation, electrical, and software layers

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and technical writing skills; ability to lead without authority and influence cross-functional teams

• Proven root cause analysis and problem-solving skills; continuous improvement mindset

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Platforms/technologies: Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens PLCs; SCADA (iFix, WinCC OA, Ignition); OPC; fieldbuses (ASI/Profibus/Profinet/DeviceNet); instrumentation and panel design

• Programming: Ladder Logic, Sequential Function Charts, Python and/or other scripting for automation, testing, and reporting

• OT/IT: Industrial networking, virtualization (e.g., VMs), databases/historians, and basic system administration

• Experience with electronic validation and quality systems (e.g., Kneat/eVal, Veeva)

• Prior leadership of installation/integration/qualification of automated equipment; experience on capital projects in GMP environments

• Familiarity with planning/scheduling practices, vendor management, and business/financial acumen for project delivery

• Track record of independent ownership, prioritization, and delivery in a fast-paced clinical manufacturing setting

• Demonstrated experience supporting audits/inspections and authoring/reviewing SOPs, validation protocols/reports (e.g., URS/FS/IQ/OQ/PQ)

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Automated Machinery, Automation Engineering, Automation Solutions, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Capital Project Management, Capital Projects, Change Management, Cybersecurity Risk Management, Data Analysis, Deviation Management, Equipment Qualification, Facility Management, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure, Maintenance Supervision, Manufacturing Support, Occupational Safety and Health, Pharmaceutical Process Engineering, Prioritization, Regulatory Audits, Sterile Manufacturing, Team Leadership, Troubleshooting {+ 2 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:

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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

$114,700.00 - $180,500.00

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:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

11/22/2025

*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.