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.

Manufacturing Operations delivers products that serve our customers through a “Safety First, Quality Always” commitment. Our sites operate within a global network to assure the quality of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products while advancing safety, reliability, compliance, and operational performance.

The Senior Technician, Operations provides advanced technical leadership to sustain safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations. This role optimizes equipment setup and changeover performance, resolves complex automation, mechanical, and electrical issues, strengthens preventive maintenance practices, and builds technical capability across the site. Working across Production, Maintenance, Quality, Planning, Engineering, site leadership, vendors, and third-party contractors, the position drives equipment reliability, disciplined execution, technology adoption, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Champions company business practices, ethics policies, and Environmental, Health, and Safety standards, including lockout/tagout, machine guarding, hazard communication, personal protective equipment, and safe-work requirements.
• Provides advanced technical support for equipment setup, adjustment, changeover, troubleshooting, repair, and operational problem-solving.
• Diagnoses recurring and complex equipment failures, applies structured root cause analysis, and implements sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Develops equipment-specific preventive maintenance strategies and coordinates execution with Operations, Maintenance, Planning, and Engineering.
• Drives improvements in equipment uptime, changeover performance, preventive maintenance completion, product quality, schedule attainment, and timely closure of corrective actions.
• Evaluates and implements approved equipment, process, automation, and technology improvements in accordance with safety, quality, engineering, validation, and change-control requirements.
• Provides functional technical leadership during assigned activities and coordinates work across internal teams, vendors, and third-party contractors.
• Develops and delivers structured training to strengthen technical, mechanical, electrical, automation, and operational capability across the site.
• Maintains accurate activity reports, maintenance records, work instructions, training materials, technical specifications, equipment drawings, and corrective-action and change-control documentation, as applicable.
• Communicates technical findings, operational risks, recommendations, priorities, and status updates to operators, technicians, management, vendors, and cross-functional partners.
• Leads or supports daily team discussions covering safety, production priorities, equipment performance, technical issues, and applicable company policies.
• Reinforces standard operating procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices, quality-system requirements, and established ways of working.
• Provides on-site or remote technical support outside regular working hours when required by operational needs.
• Identifies and advances continuous-improvement opportunities that strengthen production and maintenance performance.

Key Competencies

• Advanced technical aptitude with the ability to rapidly assess complex equipment and process issues.
• Strong analytical judgment, disciplined problem-solving, and attention to detail.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to translate technical information for varied audiences.
• Strong planning, organization, documentation, and follow-through in a changing operational environment.
• Ability to work independently, collaborate across functions, and influence outcomes without relying on formal authority.
• Ability to facilitate small teams, coordinate technical work, and maintain focus on safety, quality, reliability, and business results.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible technical experience in a manufacturing, distribution, or operations environment.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience troubleshooting, repairing, setting up, and optimizing industrial manufacturing equipment, including preventive maintenance, equipment changeovers, root cause analysis, and sustainable corrective actions.
• Advanced experience diagnosing and resolving complex faults across industrial automation, mechanical, and electrical systems, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), sensors, actuators, motors, drives, controls, wiring, and related equipment.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics and technical drawings; safely isolate failures; identify root causes; and independently execute or coordinate repairs that restore reliable operation and prevent recurrence.
• Working knowledge of applicable safety procedures, standard operating procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices, quality-system documentation, and change-control requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel.
• Experience using manufacturing, maintenance, or production systems to document work and monitor operational performance.
• Ability to work safely in a manufacturing environment, wear required personal protective equipment and provide on-site or remote support outside the regular schedule when operational needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, industrial technology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience with printing and engraving processes.
• Experience with technical layout and manufacturing systems, including LaserCAD, VLM, a manufacturing execution system (MES), or comparable applications.

Work Environment and Position Requirements

• Works in an active manufacturing environment with exposure to operating machinery, production noise, temperature variation, and other conditions governed by site safety controls.
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods and move safely around production equipment, including bending, reaching, and climbing stairs, as required.
• Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment and comply with site access, safety, and hygiene requirements.
• May occasionally work evenings, weekends, holidays, or other nonstandard hours based on operational needs.
• May occasionally travel to company locations, vendor facilities, or training sites based on business needs.
• Performs other duties consistent with the position’s purpose and level as business needs evolve.

 

#MSJR

The salary range for this role is: $63,800 - $100,400

 

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.

Required Skills:

Assembly Operations, Efficiency Management, Equipment Maintenance, Facility Maintenance, Inventory Management, Machinery Operation, Manufacturing Quality Control, Material Supply Management, Packaging Operations, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Preventive Maintenance, Production Efficiencies, Production Scheduling, Safety Compliance, Utilities Management

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

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:

10/24/2026

*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.