Associate Specialist, Pilot Plant Engineering and Operations (Onsite)

Job Description

We are seeking a motivated scientist/engineer to join the Biologics Downstream Operations team within BioProcess Research and Development (BPRD).   The successful candidate will be charged with operations supporting downstream pilot plant activities, including fed-batch and continuous processing operations. The candidate may have the opportunity to identify operational improvements to increase efficiency, respond to non-standard requests, or implement new technology and update laboratory procedure documents to standardize the improvement. Candidate is expected to work in a team atmosphere in close collaboration with bioprocess development scientists, facility engineering, lab automation and safety groups. 

 

The ideal candidate should have experience with small - scale and/or large - scale bioprocess equipment, including bioprocess chromatography skids, normal and tangential flow filtration techniques, viral filtration & inactivation techniques and be able to work well with others, communicate effectively both written and orally. Candidate may be requested to work during non-business hours/days to support extended growth and production activities. 

 

Candidate will participate in a range of activities including, but not limited to:  

·       Large Scale purification support:

·       Facilitate knowledge transfers between development and operations teams

·       Batch documentation within an electronic laboratory system

·       Participate in scheduling discussions within the operations team

·       Collaborate with development colleagues on the implementation of novel technologies and process analytical tools 

·       Work collaboratively with pilot plant operations, upstream and solution prep teams

·       Work collaboratively with process development scientists from across BPR&D

·       Support safety and training initiatives  

 

Education: 

·       BS in Chemical/Biochemical/Biomedical Engineering/Biology/Chemistry with 1+ year 

 

Required Experience and Skills: 

·       Strong skills in laboratory experimentation and documentation, with demonstrated ability to write clear comprehensive operating procedures 

·       Solid hands-on experience with large scale purification operations 

·       Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work in cross-functional team environments 

·       Lead small projects or sub-teams including vendor interactions 

·       Strong troubleshooting skills 

 

Preferred Experience and Skills: 

·       Demonstrated ability for independent execution of experiments

·       Familiarity with protein purification techniques (chromatography, NFF & TFF filtration)

·       Experience with Akta Bioprocess Skid, BioSMB, Akta Ready/Flux

·       Ability to work with lab automation teams on improvement projects

#PRD

#eligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Batch Record Review, Biomedical Sciences, Biopharmaceutics, Estimation and Planning, GMP Compliance, GMP Validation, Immunochemistry, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Quality Control, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Pharmaceutical Biology, Pilot Plant Operations, Process Control, Process Optimization, Protein Purifications

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.

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The salary range for this role is

$71,900.00 - $113,200.00

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:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

07/17/2026

*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.