Associate Director of Mechanical Utilities Engineer

Job Description

Bring your engineering expertise to high-impact global capital projects and help turn business needs into innovative, compliant facility solutions worldwide.

 

Our Global Engineering Solutions (GES) organization is currently recruiting an Associate Director of Mechanical Utilities Engineer

 

The Global Engineering Solutions team executes a wide variety of capital and expense projects to ensure that our company has the capabilities and facilities to meet our goal of providing the World Class Supply of Medicines and support our life saving objectives and is seeking a candidate to help deliver capital projects related to manufacturing, research and facilities utility infrastructure. 

 

The role will report into, and under the guidance of, the Technology Center Director of the Global Design Engineering Solutions (DES) team within GES. This role will participate in leading the development of holistic global design solutions that support critical manufacturing and business objectives across multiple programs and business units.

 

The role will provide mechanical utility engineering subject matter expertise across the front-end planning lifecycle, from early concept development and site selection through FEL 3 Basis of Design. The focus is on delivering solutions that align with business needs, internal standards, and industry best practices; enabling successful capital project execution through clear engineering definition; and ensuring systems are efficient, compliant, and fit for purpose. In addition, the role will support strengthening engineering design standards and governance while building trusted relationships and providing technical leadership across global initiatives.

 

The candidate will be responsible for developing the technical solutions for capital projects that support the business objectives of our Company Operating Units and is expected to bring forward a strong expertise in Mechanical Utility system design to capital project activities ranging from business case and concept development through start up and commissioning efforts. 

 

The candidate shall possess strong subject matter expertise in the design, construction and operations of mechanical utility systems including Steam, Steam Condensate, Heating Hot Water, Chilled Water, Cooling Tower, Process Cooling, Fire Water, Nitrogen, Chemical/Sanitary (Plumbing) Waste, Effluent Decontamination, Compressed Air, Potable Water, Natural Gas, and Process/Lab Gases.  The candidate should also have experience in the design and specification of pipe and piping systems.

 

The candidate will collaborate with other GES and Integrated Project Team (IPT) members (e.g., Project Management, Technology, Quality, Automation, Plant Operations and Safety), as well as Engineering Firms and Equipment Vendors to develop capital project design deliverables. 

 

The candidate shall exhibit strong leadership and exemplary communication, and decision-making skills.  The candidate should have a strong understanding of the line of business, maintain a strong link to industry, be able to influence multiple projects and is expected to develop and maintain technical knowledge in the respective areas of expertise.  

 

Flexibility with travel and work location is also required.  

 

Primary Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Lead or support project Mechanical Utility design efforts, providing compliant, innovative solutions that meet business needs.
• Provide technical guidance to project teams for mechanical utility systems during the project scoping and front-end planning stages including evaluation of alternative solutions for implementation on sterile, bulk biological, solid dosage and laboratory facilities located throughout the world.
• Assist in the support of sustainability and energy savings efforts on projects.
• Support major project design efforts and may lead small or minor project design efforts that meet business objectives.
• Ensure deliverables produced on projects confirm to our Company standards, are technically sound and sufficiently complete.
• Collaborates with and provides SME guidance to project teams during detail design, construction, and installation of mechanical utility systems.
• Author and maintain engineering design standards, guidelines, practices, and position papers.
• Provide technical support and guidance during start up planning, commissioning, and qualification activities of mechanical utility systems on critical capital projects.
• Collaborate with global manufacturing site engineering-based teams to troubleshoot mechanical utility issues.
• Conduct project peer reviews and provide subject matter expertise on various projects.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of latest industry technology trends.
• Interface and collaborate with our Company Global Quality and Global Safety & the Environment in development and implementation divisional guidance documents and initiatives.
• Interface with mechanical utility equipment vendors

 

Education Minimum Requirement: 

• A Bachelor of Science in Engineering or applicable science degree is required.

 

Required Experience and Skills:

 

• A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in engineering of mechanical utility systems is required. 
• A strong working knowledge of mechanical utility system design, engineering fundamentals, regulatory requirements, equipment sizing, specification, and system troubleshooting. 
• Prior experience with engineering design of mechanical utility systems in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech or closely related industry

 

Preferred Experience and Skills: 

 

• Experienced with commissioning, startup and troubleshooting mechanical utility systems.
• Competent leadership and teamwork skills.
• Accomplished written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical abilities and solid base in engineering fundamentals.
• Experience with capital projects that followed a stage gate capital management process.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and other 2D/3D design tools, with the ability to produce layout, PFD, P&ID deliverables
• Ability to travel, both domestic and international. Approximately 30% global travel is anticipated.

 

Primary Work Location: West Point, PA; Secondary Work Location: Rahway, NJ; Durham , NC; Elkton, VA

Required Skills:

3D Designing, 3D Designing, Adaptability, Autodesk AutoCAD, Automation Systems, Capital Project Management, Change Management, Clinical Manufacturing, Communication Sciences, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Decontamination, Drug Product Manufacturing, Energy Conservation, Engineering Design, Engineering Principle, High Technology Industry, Industry Knowledge, Interpersonal Relationships, Leadership, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Natural Gas, Peer Reviewing, Piping Systems {+ 9 more}

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 primary location for this posting is:

USA - Pennsylvania - West Point

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

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

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. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

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.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

11/6/2026

*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.