Senior Specialist, Drug Product Operations

About the role

Welcome to the Future of Precision Oncology - Join Us in Wilmington, DE!

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our cutting-edge Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Delaware-a bold step forward in transforming cancer care through innovation, collaboration, and purpose-driven science.

ADCs represent one of the most exciting frontiers in biopharmaceuticals today. By combining the targeting power of monoclonal antibodies with the potency of cytotoxic drugs, ADCs deliver cancer-killing agents directly to tumor cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. This precision has revolutionized treatment for hematologic malignancies and is rapidly expanding into other cancers.

The global ADC market is booming, projected to surpass $16 billion in 2025 and grow steadily through 2035. Innovations in linker technology, payload design, and AI-driven antibody optimization are accelerating breakthroughs and expanding therapeutic possibilities.

Our Wilmington facility is designed to meet the growing demand for high-potency manufacturing, ensure supply chain resilience, and support the next wave of ADC launches. Importantly, this site will support both drug substance conjugation and drug product.

This is more than a job - it's a chance to be part of the next wave of cancer care. Whether you're an engineer, scientist, operator, or quality expert, your work here will contribute to life-changing therapies for patients around the world. Together, we'll build a facility that not only meets the highest standards of safety and innovation but also fosters a culture of excellence, inclusion, and impact.

Join us in Wilmington and help shape the future of cancer treatment-one molecule at a time.

We invite you to become a part of our journey as the Manufacturing Senior Specialist Drug Product. This role offers you the chance to contribute to the site's development and ensure successful GMP manufacturing.

In this position the Manufacturing Senior Specialist will play a pivotal role in ensuring smooth operation of various aspects of manufacturing. In partnership with site MS&T the Manufacturing Senior Specialist will provide comprehensive manufacturing and technical leadership to the drug product organization.

Bring energy, knowledge, innovation to carry out the following

• Active participation in Process Hazard Analyses and Quality Risk Assessments as necessary.
• Active participation in factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT).
• Execute automation sprints as necessary in the drug product area,
• Support equipment qualification deliverables during execution of project phase including equipment Commissioning & Qualification, IOQ, etc.
• Creation and revision of technical documents including manufacturing batch records, SOPs and technical memos.
• Provide Manufacturing and Technical expertise within the manufacturing team, including areas such as sterile supply, formulation, isolators, filling, lyophilization, capping and visual inspection (manual and automated).
• Execute the Engineering Batches, Process Performance Qualifications and commercial manufacturing.
• Support technical deliverables within Drug Product to support the successful product launch.
• Promote a Safety First, Quality Always mindset with Inclusion for all, fostering a Right First Time Culture.
• Provide technical support for RFT implementation and execution.
• Explain complex technical issues to external customers / agencies.

What skills you will need

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, science or related discipline.
• 5+ years working in a cGMP biological, vaccine or pharma facility. Preferred candidate will have cGMP experience with biological, vaccine or pharma facility with prior aseptic manufacturing experience.
• Start-up experience in a large-scale commercial drug product facility highly desirable.
• Ability to operate within a matrix team to execute on the floor activities such as FAT, SAT, IQ/OQ and Engineering batches.
• Previous experience of manufacturing and technical support of placebo runs, developmental batches and PPQ runs.
• Experience with AVI/MVI and creation of library of defects.
• Experience in the following unit operations: formulation, sterile supply, filling, and lyophilization.
• Previous experience with CQV activities will be advantageous.
• Experience in data driven approach to root cause analysis and prioritization of continuous improvement initiatives e.g., Six Sigma.
• Experience in a risk-based approach to manufacturing through use of tools such as FMEA.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities as project demands change.
• Understanding of USP1790 and industry/ regulatory requirements such as Annex 1.
• Demonstrated skills in planning, communication (oral and written) and in particular technical writing.

Required Skills

Aseptic Manufacturing, Batch Production, Equipment Qualification, GMP Documentation, Pharmaceutical Formulations, Plant Startup, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Sterile Filling, Sterile Manufacturing, Visual Inspections

Preferred Skills

• cGMP Regulations, Drug Product Manufacturing, Fill and Finish
• 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 - Delaware - Wilmington (Biotech)

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

$96,200.00 - $151,400.00

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: No relocation
• VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements

• 25%
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable
• Shift: Not Indicated
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): highly potent compouinds
• Job Posting End Date: 11/23/2026

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.