Senior Specialist, Engineering - Oral Solid Dose Packaging

Job Description

Position Overview - Basic Functions & Responsibility Essential function{s) includes, but is not limited to:

Reporting to the Associate Director of PTO Engineering, the Senior Specialist Engineer is responsible for providing technical support of our Manufacturing Division-Wilson packaging (including bottle/blister/oral solid dose filling and packaging lines) and medical device (autoinjector assembly and packaging/combination kit packaging) lines.  Responsible for technical input on purchasing, installing, and qualifying new packaging and device assembly equipment.  Also responsible for packaging and device assembly equipment performance, support, and troubleshooting for products packaged at our Manufacturing Division-Wilson.  Works closely with Wilson and above-site departments for the technology transfer of new products and processes from our Research & Development Division or other Manufacturing Division sites to our Manufacturing Division -Wilson.

The basic function of this position is to, independently or as part of a project team, plan, design and implement technical projects related to packaging and medical device equipment/processes.  Work requires a strong technical background and project management skills, as well as working knowledge of our company's methods, standards, procedures, and practices.  Experience in equipment installation and qualification for complex systems.  This position requires the engineer to be the technical subject matter expert for the assigned packaging lines and to make recommendations for decisions associated with these lines and their associated products.  Utilizes strong communication skills to lead project sub teams or be a key contributor on site and above-site sub teams. Leads implementation of new technology and new applications of existing technology. 

The Senior Specialist Engineer is expected to collect and interpret information, to develop solutions and to make decisions with high liability to projects of varying scopes. Expertise in qualification and process validation practices for complex systems is essential to success in this role. Very minimal supervision, guidance, and direction are employed by the Associate Director, however, periodic checks and reports are required to review soundness of technical judgment and the status/schedule of the effort. The Senior Process/Project Engineer will also provide leadership and training to others.

Primary activities include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for the scale-up and technology transfer of pilot processes to production scale for our Manufacturing site at Wilson.  This includes support for equipment design, equipment qualification, process demonstration, process performance qualification, and process validation including for bottle/blister/autoinjector packaging equipment.
• Responsible for managing capital and expense projects for installation and qualification of new packaging and medical device assembly equipment and modifications/optimizations to existing equipment.
• Provides technical assistance to packaging operations in the resolution of packaging and device assembly equipment problems for in-line products. This involves leading root cause analysis investigations for equipment-related or complex quality events.
• Provides written scientific justification for proposed changes by conducting literature search, designing and executing experiments, analytically reviewing current and past data, and demonstrating the impact of process changes on product quality, production efficiency, or productivity.
• Provides technical assistance for quality and regulatory activities including site inspections, preparation of technical documents for NDA supplements, FDA observation, and environmental process issues.
• Responsible for the accuracy of Packaging Process Descriptions.  This requires a thorough knowledge of the packaging operations, the hazards involved, and the in-process controls necessary to obtain reproducible results.
• Responsible for completing all process engineering/process development activities with the highest regard for all of our Company Divisional policies and Wilson site procedure for safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Review literature pertaining to pharmaceutical packaging in order to introduce new profitable/productivity ideas into the packaging operation.
• Provides technical support in critically evaluating quality standard specifications and methods for raw materials and intermediate and final products.
• Provide technical support for the design, machinability evaluation, process performance qualification and qualification of new or modified packaging components and Medical Device and Combination products.
• Technical support for the scale-up and technology transfer of pilot processes to production scale for our Manufacturing Division -Wilson. This includes support for equipment design, equipment qualification, process demonstration, process performance qualification, and process validation.
• Responsible for authoring process change controls and completing tasks to implement packaging and device assembly equipment/process changes.
• Provides technical assistance for quality and regulatory activities including site inspections and preparation of technical documents for FDA observation.

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industry Technology 

 

Required Education Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of 5 years relevant industrial experience
• Experience in Bottle/oral solid dosage form packaging
• Experience working in a GMP Pharmaceutical Environment
• Demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills
• Excellent analytical ability
• Proven communication skills.  Strong oral and written communication skills
• The ability to work under limited supervision
• Mechanical aptitude to troubleshoot/resolve equipment issues

Preferred experience and skills:

• Experience in Autoinjector assembly and packaging
• Project management skills
• Experience in equipment qualification activities
• Experience in the use of Lean Six Sigma tools

Required Skills:

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Oral Solid Dosage, Pharmaceutical Packaging, Process Design, Regulatory Compliance, Technical Leadership

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 salary range for this role is

$117,000.00 - $184,200.00

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:

Domestic

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:

08/24/2026

*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.