Specialist, Manufacturing Automation

Position Overview

Our Digital Manufacturing Operations Team supporting our vibrant West Point site is seeking a Process Automation Engineer Specialist to join the team. This role provides automation system support and technical expertise to enable our Manufacturing Division in the reliable and compliant supply of quality vaccine products to customers and patients around the world.

The position is responsible for problem resolution, implementation of process control and data collection techniques, and troubleshooting activities in compliance with SDLC, GMP, safety, and environmental requirements. The role works closely with Manufacturing, Quality, and Engineering organizations and supports a broad spectrum of automated systems within GMP manufacturing operations.

Key Functions

• Work independently and as a team member while demonstrating integrity, precision, accomplishment, motivation, ambition, and respect.
• Comply with global policies, procedures, guidelines, regulatory requirements, and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) in the execution of daily responsibilities.
• Provide automation system support and expertise to support the manufacture of quality vaccine products and achievement of site priorities.
• Serve as the technical owner for automation system components supporting manufacturing processes, including direct shop-floor support of manufacturing activities.
• Design, implement, test, and close change controls associated with automation-related corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build effective relationships with business partners and stakeholders to proactively identify and resolve technical issues.
• Lead or participate in investigations of automation incidents and system issues to prevent recurrence, including the development and implementation of corrective actions.
• Maintain awareness of emerging automation technologies and industry trends and provide recommendations for adoption where appropriate.
• Provide off-shift, weekend, evening, remote, or on-site automation support for 24/7 manufacturing operations as required.

Education

• BS in Engineering, Computer Science or related field with 2 years of experience (GMP Manufacturing and/or Manufacturing Automation) or High School Diploma and 4 years of experience (GMP Manufacturing and/or Manufacturing Automation)

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

Required

• Two (2) or more years of experience in process automation or a related field.
• Familiarity with Computer System Validation (CSV) requirements and regulated GxP environments.
• Knowledge of the ISA-88 Batch Standard.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with colleagues across all organizational levels and with external stakeholders.

Preferred

• Experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Experience supporting aseptic processing and/or sterile manufacturing operations.
• Technical and operational expertise in areas such as:
• Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems
• Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems
• Network infrastructure
• SQL databases
• Manufacturing automation technologies

Required Skills

Aseptic Processing, Audit Management, Automation, Biotechnology, Biotechnology Industry, Business Process Improvements, Change Controls, Computer Science, Corrective Action Management, Data Management, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Interpersonal Communication, Manufacturing, Pharmaceutics, Problem Management, Process Automations, Process Control, Quality Management, Real-Time Programming, Shop Floor Management, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Vaccine Administration, Vaccine Development, Vaccine Management, Vaccinology

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.
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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 - Pennsylvania - West Point

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

$87,300.00 - $137,400.00

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

• 10%
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable
• Shift: 1st - Day
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): N/A
• Job Posting End Date: 11/17/2026

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.