Engineering Senior Specialist

Job Description

Our Biotech facility in Dublin began construction in 2018 and has progressed at an impressive rate since then.  The site plays a pivotal role in the manufacture of our Company’s biologics-based medicines, including immuno-oncology, and it has expanded our Company’s current internal network of biologics drug substance manufacturing plants since full manufacturing operations began in 2021. ​

 

We have an exciting opportunity for an Engineering Senior Specialist to join our Engineering Centre of Excellence (CoE) at our Biotech site.

 

In this leadership role, you will drive excellence across process safety, high-risk work, contractor management, emergency response, Engineering financial management and digital reliability programmes. You will lead and develop direct reports, take ownership of key safety standards and collaborate with cross-functional teams across Engineering and the wider site to ensure compliance, strengthen operational performance and deliver sustainable, measurable business results.

 

Bring energy, knowledge, innovation to carry out the following:

 

Process Safety and Safety Standards

• Lead process safety across the asset lifecycle, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, controlled and monitored.

• Own and maintain designated Engineering safety standards in line with legal, regulatory and company requirements.

• Lead or support hazard assessments, management of change, incident learning, assurance activities and closure of corrective actions.

• Build process safety capability through coaching, guidance and targeted learning.

Emergency Response Team

• Lead governance and readiness of the site Emergency Response Team (ERT), including organisation, resources, equipment and capability.

• Coordinate recruitment, training, drills and competency development with EHS and site partners.

• Maintain response plans and escalation pathways, using drills and events to strengthen preparedness and close improvement actions.

Contractor Management

• Define clear accountabilities and controls for contractor safety, quality, compliance and delivery, in partnership with EHS, Procurement and area owners.

• Monitor contractor performance and assurance findings, addressing recurring risks and driving continuous improvement.

High-Risk Work

• Provide governance and oversight for high-risk work, ensuring robust planning, risk assessment, authorisation and field execution.

• Own or support relevant standards and critical controls, including permit-to-work, isolation, confined space, work at height, lifting and other designated high-risk activities.

• Lead assurance and learning reviews, verify control effectiveness and ensure gaps and corrective actions are closed promptly.

Engineering Financial Management

• Lead Engineering budgeting, forecasting and periodic financial reviews across operating and capital expenditure.

• Provide consolidated oversight of commitments, risks, opportunities and benefits, partnering with Engineering leaders and Finance to improve transparency, forecast accuracy and accountability.

• Maintain appropriate financial governance and support business cases, investment prioritisation and value-realisation reviews.

Digital Reliability Programmes

• Define and lead digital reliability programmes that improve asset performance, maintenance effectiveness and data-driven decisions.

• Coordinate deployment and adoption of reliability technologies, analytics, condition monitoring and digital workflows with Engineering, Operations and Digital/IT.

• Ensure solutions are secure, compliant, scalable and integrated; track adoption, value and sustained benefits.

People Leadership and Strategic Delivery

• Lead, coach and develop direct reports through clear objectives, feedback, accountability and capability planning.

• Translate Engineering and site strategy into prioritised plans, governance, resources and measurable outcomes.

• Build effective partnerships across the site, influence decisions, resolve cross-functional issues and represent the CoE at governance forums.

• Lead change through clear communication, stakeholder engagement, disciplined execution and sustainable

 

 

In order to excel in this role, you will more than likely have:

 

While the skills outlined below are desirable, we are equally interested in candidates who may not meet all the criteria but demonstrate ambition, initiative and a strong commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

 

• Degree in Engineering, Science or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Significant engineering, maintenance, reliability, process safety or technical operations experience in a regulated or high-hazard environment.
• Ability to lead a team and delivery of cross-functional programmes with measurable business impact.
• Strong knowledge of process safety, risk management, Engineering governance and regulatory expectations.
• Experience in budget ownership, forecasting, cost control and senior-level financial reporting.
• Experience delivering digital reliability or asset-management improvements.
• Strong strategic thinking, judgement, financial acumen, communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills.

 

 

We keep the patient at the very heart of all that we do and strive to find solutions and treatments for some of the world's most challenging healthcare needs.

 

We are committed to flexible working where possible, and this is why our Company has introduced a new hybrid working model for office-based colleagues around the world.

Please feel free to speak to us about what flexibility means to you during your application.

 

So, if you are ready to:

Invent solutions to meet unmet healthcare needs, please apply today.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Continuous Improvement, Engineering Management, Facility Management, Financial Management, Leadership, Maintenance Management, Reliability Management, Stakeholder Management

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

11/3/2026

*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.