Associate Director, Engineering (Onsite)

Job Description

The Formulation Laboratory and Experimentation (FLEx) Center in Rahway, New Jersey provides a launch pad for the early phase and commercial formulation development and GMP clinical supply manufacture of our Company’s drug product pipeline.  The FLEx Sterile Process Engineer at the Associate Director level will serve as a technical subject matter expert in process development, equipment and facility optimization, and new capabilities across the sterile development facility.  They will collaborate closely with scientists and engineers from the research and manufacturing divisions in the development of a portfolio of sterile drug product formulations using the capabilities and facilities of the FLEx Center.  They will be responsible for the technical mentorship and coordination of work for process engineering colleagues to develop robust and innovative drug product manufacturing processes.  Close partnership with colleagues from Sterile Product Development, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Engineering, and Analytical will be required to ensure effective process development in support of clinical development.   

 

The successful candidate will drive continuous improvement to realize the vision of the FLEx Center as a learning facility.  They will serve as a role model for the culture of perpetual adherence to safety and compliance standards. A successful candidate should have extensive drug product process development experience, an affinity for hands-on problem solving, and excellent leadership and communication skills.

 

The role is based in New Jersey and reports to the FLEx Sterile Process Engineering Lead in Pharmaceutical Operations & Clinical Supply. 

 

Primary Responsibilities:

·        Serve as a technical expert and mentor to a team of process engineers, tasked with becoming equipment and facility subject matter experts themselves.

·        Provide trouble shooting support on the shop floor

·        Drive internal capability development by evaluating new drug product technologies and deploying new technologies to develop pipeline assets

·        Collaborate effectively within and across functional areas. The desired individual is someone who will bring knowledge and creativity to the position as well as have the discipline to drive results.

·        Maintain awareness of relevant new and current technologies, capabilities, and effectively share this knowledge with others

·        Participate in external and internal audits, tours, and inspections

·        Execute investigations, as needed

·        Lead and drive a culture of continuous improvement across this facility

Education Minimum Requirement: 

·        Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences or related scientific field with minimum 4 years of relevant experience or B.S. or M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences or related scientific field with minimum 7 years of relevant experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

·        Knowledge of sterile drug product processing

·        Experience with GMP manufacturing

·        Effective interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written

·        Excellent organizational skills to handle multiple priorities

·        Track record of independent problem-solving

Preferred Experience and Skills:

·        Experience with GMP facility operations

·        Experience in leading and supporting quality investigations and change management

·        Experience with quality systems

·        Familiarity with US and EU GMP and Safety compliance regulations

·        Experience with SAP, ERP or MES systems

#PSCS

Sterile2026

FLEx2026

#eligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Capability Development, Chemical Engineering, Clinical Development, Communication, Customer-Focused, Data-Driven Decision Making, Drug Product Development, Estimation and Planning, GMP Compliance, Immunochemistry, Internal Auditing, Interpersonal Communication, Leadership, Manufacturing Quality Control, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Process Development, Pharmacology, Phytochemistry, Process Control Automation, Process Optimization, Product Formulation {+ 5 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:

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

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/International

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:

05/23/2026

*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.