Categories: Pharmaceutical, Engineering, Research & Development, Manufacturing

Job Description

The Enabling Facilities (EF) group within the Chemical Engineering Research & Development (CERD) Department is seeking a highly motivated individual to work in a fast-paced job that requires a high degree of process, mechanical and engineering knowledge. The Equipment Development and Facility Engineering (EDFE) Technology Engineer position will report to the Associate Director, Engineering and will be a member of the Modality Agnostic Chemistry Scaleup (MACS) EF Team at the Rahway, NJ facility.  

Enabling Facilities is responsible for the development of new technologies/capabilities, execution of capital and non-capital improvement projects, and the automation system assets spanning production, utility systems and associated infrastructure. EDFE's role within EF includes design, installation, qualification, startup, maintenance and troubleshooting of internal pilot plant equipment and the associated facility systems. 

 

Responsibilities of the EDFE Technology Engineer include the following: 

The Associate Director, EDFE Technology Engineer role will serve as a team member supporting our company's API Pilot Facilities including the Small Scale Organics (SSO) Pilot Plant, Preparatory (Kilo) Labs, Unit Operations (UOps) Lab, the Hazardous Reaction Lab (HRL), and the new Modality Agnostic Chemistry Scaleup (MACS) Center. MACS is a new potent, multi-modality (small molecule, macrocyclic peptides, bioconjugates) drug substance process development and GMP clinical manufacturing plant currently being constructed in Rahway, New Jersey. The Associate Director will serve as a valued team member during the MACS Center Execution and Startup Phases and will continue to support the facility’s operations after start-up. 

While MACS is currently under construction, the selected candidate will contribute to equipment design, system commissioning/qualification, and operational readiness planning to enable facility startup. Long-term, the selected candidate will lead ongoing assessments and development of emerging or novel value-added technologies to support upcoming programs and to maintain relevance of the capabilities in each API facility previously listed.

Responsibilities include: 

• Networking with partner groups including Project Teams, Enabling Technologies, Manufacturing Division groups, Quality, Safety and Commercial facilities to scout emerging technologies to enable the pipeline, 

• Partnering with chemists and engineers to develop the business case for new technology investments,   

• Assessment of pilot plant equipment and infrastructure capabilities to ensure sufficient capacity to support anticipated program needs, 

• Performing early assessments of proposed new technologies to identify feasibility, 

• Developing proposals for capital or expense projects to meet the defined needs, 

• Defining process, mechanical, electrical, safety and instrumentation requirements,   

• Performing assessments of vendor offerings,

• Providing technical oversight to internal/external construction efforts, 

• Prototyping and initial demonstration planning and execution, 

• Coordinating commissioning, qualification, and characterization for new equipment and technologies to be used for GMP manufacture, 

• Socializing technology initiatives through internal and external presentations and publications, and 

• Engaging with partner organizations for successful scale-up to commercialization. 

 

The candidate will regularly network with various chemists, engineers and program leaders from partner organizations to identify external needs as well as facility engineers, operations specialists, compliance representatives, and other EF team members. 

A successful candidate will leverage these connections to stay well attuned to the status of current and planned research activities in a very dynamic environment, demonstrating curiosity and passion for scouting, assessing, and facilitating installation of new process technologies which ultimately will contribute to the flexibility of the MACS facility and the speed and robustness of the Company's pipeline.  

 

Education Minimum Requirement: 

• Bachelor of Science degree in an Engineering or related scientific field with minimum of 10 years relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with 9 years of relevant experience, or a PhD degree with 6 years of relevant experience  

 

Required Experience and Skills 

• A strong process and mechanical aptitude with the ability to read and understand P&IDs and technical/mechanical diagrams, 

• Desire to have regular hands-on presence on the plant/shop floor, 

• Process scale-up experience from laboratory to pilot plant and/or pilot plant to commercial, 

• Experience in pilot-plant scale process equipment, instrument, and automation design,  

• Familiarity with US and EU Safety and GMP compliance regulations,  

• Experience with GMP facility design, equipment start-up and/or qualification,  

• Experience with Electrical Classifications for solvent and dust (Class I and II, Div I and II) and understanding of its impact on equipment design, 

• Track record of establishing productive working relationships with process development scientists, operators, and external vendors, 

• Excellent organizational skills with an ability to multi-task, 

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written,  

• A collaborative mindset, 

• Desire and willingness to learn, contribute and lead, and

• Track-record of independent problem-solving.

 

Desired Experience and Skills: 

• Experience operating/maintaining pilot scale or prep lab scale equipment, 

• Experience with Potent Compound processing and containment systems (e.g., isolators), or clean room facilities, 

• Familiarity with Change Management processes and principles, 

• Experience with preparing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and cGMP documents, and

• History interacting with skilled trades (Piping, Electrical, Millwrights, Instrumentation, 3rd party contractors and vendors). 

Required Skills:

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

$139,600.00 - $219,700.00

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:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

02/7/2026

*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.