Associate Specialist, Engineering (Onsite)

About the role

The Formulation, Laboratory, and Experimentation (FLEx) Center is a new multi-modality (small molecule, biologics, vaccine) Drug Product development and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) clinical manufacturing plant in Rahway, New Jersey. FLEx Sterile 2 is a strategic expansion that will increase sterile clinical manufacturing capacity through additional filling, lyophilization, formulation, sterile supply, and supporting utility suites

To enable our Company’s ever evolving pipeline the new FLEx Sterile 2 facility will be equipped with leading edge robotic isolators and novel technologies. These technologies will enable speed and flexibility driving drug products from concepts to clinical supplies for our patients. As the facility is currently under construction, the selected candidate will apply her/his relevant experience to contribute to equipment and facility design, system commissioning/qualification, regulatory certification, as well as other workstreams’ critical activities to enable facility startup and operational readiness.

When operations commence, this individual will partner closely with the formulators, engineers, Quality representatives, and other team members to ensure the quality of the clinical supplies, the scientific rigor of the processes, and ultimately to enable flexibility and speed of our Company's sterile pipeline.

The FLEx Center is seeking motivated candidates for Associate Specialist positions within the Operations and Technical Operations teams in Rahway, New Jersey. These positions will provide an opportunity to build experience in sterile clinical manufacturing while contributing to safe, compliant, and reliable operations.

Technical Operations (FLEx Tech Ops)

• Provide technical support for formulation, process development, scale-up, and technology transfer activities.
• Support manufacturing by drafting and maintaining investigations, change controls, standard operating procedures, batch documentation, and technical protocols.
• Support commissioning, qualification, and regulatory readiness activities for the FLEx Sterile clinical manufacturing facility.
• Support operation and troubleshooting of aseptic formulation, filling, and lyophilization equipment across the manufacturing lifecycle.
• Manage assigned technical work and contribute to facility, equipment, and process improvements.
• Assist with data review, technical assessments, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement activities.

Operations (FLEx Operations)

• Build foundational, hands-on sterile manufacturing floor experience by executing sterile operations in formulation, component preparation, filling, lyophilization, inspection, and associated support areas in accordance with approved procedures.
• Develop practical equipment knowledge by preparing, operating, monitoring, cleaning, and supporting troubleshooting of manufacturing systems while maintaining aseptic practices and GMP compliance.
• Gain experience with GMP operations support by completing electronic and paper batch records, logbooks, checklists, standard operating procedures, and other controlled documentation accurately and in real time.
• Build operations-support experience by contributing deviation investigations, corrective and preventive actions, change controls, SOP development and revision, and implementation of process improvements.
• Develop end-to-end understanding of manufacturing operations through material movement, staging, inventory checks, line clearance and coordination of daily floor activities.

Education Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline (including mechanical, chemical, biochemical, biomedical, electrical, industrial, or related engineering), chemistry, biological sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, or another related technical discipline.
• Candidates must be currently pursuing an eligible degree and preparing to graduate by July 2027.
• Individuals selected will need to be available to start their employment by July 2027.

Required Experience and Skills

• Knowledge of GMP principles and safety requirements, with the ability to learn and apply site procedures and regulatory expectations.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to communicate and work in partnership with other employees in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to prepare Standard Operating Procedures and current GXP documents.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with computer systems and applications, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook), equipment human-machine interfaces (HMIs), SAP, and calibration and maintenance database systems.
• Must be willing and able to lift up to 50 pounds; bend, stoop, squat, crawl, twist, and climb ladders; and wear required cleanroom protective gowning, including respirators.
• Ability to complete all required gowning, wear required personal protective equipment, including a powered air-purifying respirator, and work in Grade C cleanroom conditions while consistently maintaining appropriate aseptic behaviors.
• Demonstrate, at all times, safe work habits and maintain a safe work environment. Comprehend and comply with all safety and company policies and procedures.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Internship, co-op, laboratory, pilot plant, or manufacturing experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or similarly regulated industry.
• Hands-on experience gained through academic or personal projects, machine-shop work, construction, equipment assembly, maintenance, fabrication, repair, or similar practical activities.
• Experience working effectively in a cross-functional team.
• Exposure to change control, deviation management, root cause analysis, or corrective and preventive action processes.
• Technical writing or controlled-document experience.
• Experience operating, setting up, disassembling, and adjusting complex equipment within sterile drug product operations, formulation, filling, lyophilization, inspection, or equipment operation.
• FLEx2026
• Sterile2026 eligibleforERP
• #PSCS
• SWE2026
• SHPE2026

Required Skills

Aseptic Handling, Clinical Manufacturing, Engineering Principle, Engineering Standards, Facility Design, GMP Compliance, GMP Validation, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Systems, Microsoft Office

Preferred Skills

• GMP Operations, Manufacturing Operations, Manufacturing Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
• 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.
• EEOC Know Your Rights

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.

• Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
• The primary location for this posting is: USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Pay and benefits

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is

$71,900.00 - $113,200.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

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: 11/19/2026

Additional information

*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.