Associate Specialist, Process and Instrumentation Engineer

Job Description

For over 130 years, we have pioneered groundbreaking science.  Today, we are driven by continuous innovation to develop breakthrough medicines, vaccines and technology.  Rooted in direct experience on the farm and in the clinic, we work hand in hand with our customers every step of the way.

Our singular focus is to empower those who care for animals, helping them manage their vital responsibility with confidence.  Because when it comes to animal health, no one sees it like we do.

The selected applicant will develop and maintain the Engineering, Maintenance, Automation, and Calibration teams in high levels of process support and maintainability.  The Process and Instrumentation Engineer will be the authority on Key Operating Parameters, Critical Attributes, and Critical Process Parameters within the Engineering and Maintenance department.  As a crucial part of this role, the Process and Instrumentation Engineer will serve as a Calibration System Administrator.  The Calibration Administration provision of this role will be responsible for defining, documenting, qualifying, and communicating the calibration details of process and utility instrumentation under the Calibration Program. 

Due to the Process and Instrumentation Engineer’s deep knowledge of the process requirements and the systems that maintain those requirements; the role will play a critical role in defining new processes, change management, deviation investigation, process improvement, and efficiency improvement.

The Process and Instrumentation Engineer will work closely with Project Managers, Maintenance Personnel, Calibration Personnel, Automation Engineers, Quality Assurance, Process Development, Production Management, and multiple levels of management to deliver on the goals of the organization.

The Elkhorn, NE site is a key supplier of companion and food animal vaccines for our Animal Health Network.  Within the global manufacturing and technology, Elkhorn delivers biological production, QC, R&D, animal care, process development, and support services on an 100+ acre site. 

Primary Areas of Expertise for the Process and Instrumentation Engineer

• Process Definition and Documentation through PFDs, P&IDs, SOPs, Process Guide Documents, Picture Maps, and training.

• Critical Parameter Hierarchy Definition for Instrumentation selection and calibration job plan development.

• Regulation, corporate standard, and site policy interpretation and application to a broad range of production, automation, equipment, and human processing scenarios.

• The position requires the ability to effectively work on a computer, in specialized computer programs, in the Production Environment, in Utility areas, and across all areas of the site.

• The position will support team members in Production, Clean room, utility, waste treatment, and outdoor spaces, as the role will be responsible for processes and instrumentation across all locations and applications on the site.

• Reading and understanding a broad variety of sources will be daily, from process drawings, electrical drawings, piping diagrams, automation design documents, construction specifications, SOPs, Process documentation, and instrumentation specifications. 

• Communication is the cornerstone of this role and the ability to connect with anyone in the organization will be a key determining factor in success in the role.

• Review, Route and enter new instrumentation into the Computerized Calibration Management System.

• Develop and maintain Process Flow and Block Diagrams for new, existing, and changing processes.

• Support Biological processes supporting vaccine production including: Fermentation, Concentration, Clarification, Blending, Sterile Filling, Freeze Drying, Serialization, and Packaging.

• Support change controls for process improvements.

• Support deviations and root cause analysis with corrective and preventive action implementation.

Education Requirement:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree required (MechE, ChemE, EE, or BSEng).

Required Experience and Skills:

• 0-3 years of relevant industry work experience

• Previous role as a Process Engineer, Commissioning & Qualification Engineer, Quality Assurance Specialist, Automation Engineer, Instrument Engineer, or Calibration Administrator is preferred.

Physical Job Attributes:

• Sit, stand, walk for up to 8 hrs per day in construction, production, utility, or office areas.

• Lift and carry up to 25 lbs. on a regular basis.

• Climb stairs and ladders to access and observe process conditions.

• Computer work, including writing, CAD, mathematical software, and Computerized Calibration Management System administration.

• Unconditioned space work at times to observe and support process and utility conditions.

• Outdoor work occasionally to observe process and utility conditions.

Other:

• Limited off shift work at times to support specific objectives.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Biopharmaceutical Operations, CAD Proficiency, Data Analysis, Engineering Principle, Engineering Standards, Estimation and Planning, Experimentation, Instrumentation, Instrumentation Engineering, Process Optimization, Professional Engineering, Project Management, Software Proficiency, System Control, Teamwork, Technical Communication, Technical Problem-Solving

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:

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

$71,900.00 - $113,200.00

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:

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:

05/21/2026

*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.