Associate Director, Engineering - Capital Projects

Job Description

The Associate Director operates under the guidance of a Director in the Global Engineering Solutions team supporting Technology Center, Large Molecule Process Engineering.   The individual collaborates with other Integrated Project Team (IPT) members (e.g., Project Management, Technology, Maintenance, Automation, Plant Operations and Safety), Engineering Firms and Vendors to progress deliverables. 

The Associate Director would be responsible for, but not limited to: 

• Planning, design, and implementation of capital projects including scope generation

• Process & facility design

• Capacity Assessments

• Equipment selection

• Vendor management and interaction

• Factory acceptance testing

• Facility start-up and Commissioning

• Construction support and/or management

• Equipment qualification

• Technology transfer

• Process demonstration

Candidates possessing capital management experience or expertise are preferred for this role.  Ideal candidate will possess superior communication and technical skills, a team player with the ability to work independently.  We are seeking candidates with outstanding records of achievement and demonstrated leadership abilities, candidates who are analytical and inquisitive about the interrelationships of various components, and perceptive, quick learners committed to making a difference in the pursuit of manufacturing high-quality, market-leading pharmaceutical, biologic and vaccine products.

The candidate should have a strong understanding of the line of business, understand capital project and technical team management, implement standard work and be able to lead technical areas and small capital projects from an end to end perspective.  Position is project-based, requiring on-site support 5 days per week, for up to 3 years. Flexibility with travel up to 50% and work location is also required based on project need.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree or higher in Mechanical, Chemical, BioChem, BioMech, or Computer/Electric Engineering or Applicable Science

 Required Experience and Skills: 

• Minimum of seven years post-bachelor’s degree experience in GMP manufacturing and/or technical support of GMP manufacturing operations (consideration given to advanced degrees)

• Minimum of two years project leadership and/or management

• Written and verbal communication, leadership and teamwork skills. 

• Experience with engineering design, equipment start-up and operation, vendor interface, risk assessment and process safety

• Ability to travel, both domestic and international

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Downstream, or Bioconjugation Drug Substance, and/or Drug Product Process Engineering Experience

• Estimating and/or Project Controls experience or expertise

• Capital Management Process Experience

• Experience with equipment life cycle approach including specification, selection, testing & commissioning, troubleshooting and qualification

• Construction Management Experience

• Experience with Potent Compound manufacturing, Process Safety, and Industrial Hygiene.

Required Skills:

Capital Project Management, Change Management, Clinical Manufacturing, Decision Making, Drug Product Manufacturing, Engineering Design, GMP Compliance, Industrial Hygiene, Interpersonal Relationships, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Oral Communications, Project Leadership, Project Management, Regulatory Compliance, Risk Assessments, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Strategic Thinking, Team Player, Technical Transfer

Preferred Skills:

Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC)

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:

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

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:

50%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

05/22/2026

*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.