Senior Operations Engineer - Spray Drying

Senior Operations Engineer supporting commissioning, qualification, and start-up of a new small molecule manufacturing facility in Virginia. The role involves partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure safe, compliant operations and drive continuous improvement using lean principles and manufacturing excellence practices.

Responsibilities

• Support commissioning, qualification, start-up, and operational readiness for the new SDI facility
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams for safe, compliant plant start-up
• Provide technical support during equipment and process start-up, troubleshooting, and optimization
• Support technology transfer and implementation of commercial manufacturing processes into the facility
• Apply lean tools and Merck Production System methodology to identify and implement improvement opportunities

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Engineering, or related technical discipline
• Minimum 5 years spray drying or drug product/SDI manufacturing and operations experience
• Working knowledge of GMP, quality, and compliance in pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Cross-functional experience in manufacturing, technical, or operational settings
• Problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and organizational skills
• Ability to prioritize in dynamic, fast-paced environments
• Demonstrated commitment to safety and continuous improvement