Specialist, Automation Engineering

Job Description The Formulation, Laboratory, and Experimentation (FLEx) Center in Rahway, New Jersey, includes a cutting‑edge sterile drug product cGMP clinical supply manufacturing facility, known as FLEx Sterile, which is currently in the operational start‑up phase. FLEx Sterile is positioned to play a pivotal role in delivering our clinical pipeline to patients worldwide, supporting a various range of product modalities including sterile small molecules, biologics, vaccines, and antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs). The facility supports the formulation and filling of clinical and developmental sterile products for critical program needs, such as new products in process development, products undergoing scale‑up, launch and transfer to the supply network, and existing commercial products undergoing process optimization. Support encompasses both start‑up operations (FLEx Sterile1) and a new capital build (FLEx Sterile2). 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/lyophilization), 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. Develop and execute automation change control inclusive of change definition, risk assessments, impact assessments, task execution, implementation, and support of associated regulatory filings. 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 (AIOQ) of new automated equipment and systems; author/execute URS/RS/CS/DS/AIQ/AOQ/AIOQ/UAT. 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 (product/equipment QA and digital data quality -DDQ), Manufacturing Operations, OEM vendors/system integrators 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 system performance. Off‑shifts (second shift/weekend) or extended shift work may be required to provide automation support for manufacturing operations. Education Minimum Requirement Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering, Science, Information Technology, or related field minimum 2 years of experience in process automation or equivalent. Demonstrated a strong performance record and have excellent project management skills. Highly developed communication, teamwork skills. 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. Knowledgeable of S88 batch standards. Experience in biologics, vaccine or bulk sterile manufacturing facilities is strongly preferred. 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. Required Skills Adaptability, Analytical Instrumentation, Automation, Automation Engineering, Automation Systems, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Bioprocessing, Capital Projects, cGMP Compliance, Change Control Processes, Computer System Validation (CSV), Cybersecurity, Data Analysis, Data Integrity, Detail‑Oriented, Electrical Systems, GMP Compliance, Prioritization, Process Automations, Process Control, Project Management, Regulatory Compliance, System Administration, Virtualization Preferred Skills cGMP Regulations 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. 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 Angles’ 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 1st - Day Valid Driving License No Hazardous Material(s) n/a Job Posting End Date 07/24/2026 *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. 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 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 and 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. The salary range for this role is $87,300.00 - $137,400.00 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 You can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting. #J-18808-Ljbffr EyeBio