Specialist, Packaging Engineer 

Job Description

The Packaging Commercialization department has an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Packaging Engineer at either the Rahway, New Jersey or West Point, Pennsylvania site.  This candidate will serve as an individual contributor and foster our department mission to (1) design and develop responsible and accessible commercial packaging solutions with strong science, risk-based thinking, and focus on the customer while (2) striking the balance of being innovative and flexible to meet the evolving pipeline, while also continuously improving and standardizing our packaging solutions.     

 

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to focus on package development for a range of traditional pharmaceuticals (oral solid dosage, oral powders, suspensions, sterile injectables, and inhaled formulations) and biopharmaceutical applications (vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and antibody drug conjugates) as well as provide input to primary packaging for the drug component and secondary packaging of medical device and combination products. Through support of the Packaging Working Groups, the successful candidate will collaborate on multiple cross-functional teams with peers in drug product formulation and analytical development as well as supply chain and marketing to provide technical guidance during the development of primary, secondary and tertiary packaging for new products and specialty devices.  

 

Packaging Responsibilities:  

• Providing input regarding selection of primary packaging material 

• Determination of package images to support commercialization as well as leading the shipping distribution strategy and coordination of shipping distribution studies efforts regarding characterization and qualification testing of robust packaging systems  

• The successful candidate will author packaging specifications for primary, secondary and tertiary packaging as well as provide information to support relevant sections of BLA’s, NDA’s, WMA’s, and JNDA’s  

• The successful candidate will interface with our internal Global Packaging Technology Operations and Packaging Site Operations teams, as well as external Contract Manufacturing Operations and packaging component suppliers while fulfilling their responsibilities 

 

Education Minimum Requirement:  

• The successful candidate will have a completed a B.S. or higher degree in Packaging Engineering, Packaging Science, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering or Pharmaceutical Science with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience 

 

Required Experience and Skills:  

• Understanding of package development process and engineering principles 

• Strong scientific and risk-based thinking 

• Demonstrated experience in building collaborative partnerships 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 

• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to deliver on timelines 

• Ability to make rapid, disciplined decisions 

 

Preferred Experience and Skills: 

• Experience in new product pharmaceutical and/or biopharmaceutical development packaging 

 

Required Skills:

Data Analysis, Device Packaging, Engineering Standards, Global Health, Innovation, Leadership Training and Development, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, New Product Development, Packaging Engineering, Packaging Equipment, Packaging Processes, Packaging Testing, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Process Design, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Teamwork, Technical Writing, Technology Operations

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

$87,300.00 - $137,400.00

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:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

07/9/2026

*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.