2027 Future Talent Program - Bioprocess Clinical Manufacturing & Technology Co-Op

Merck • Upper Gwynedd Township, PA

7d • $39,908 - $111,111 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Future Talent Program offers cooperative education opportunities lasting 4–6 months and involving one or more projects. This co-op is in the Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies Process R&D division and is based within West Point’s Biologics Pilot Plant (BPP), a GMP clinical manufacturing facility. Under the direction of a project mentor, the co-op may work on initiatives in the automation, process operations, or capital sub-team of the Bioprocess Clinical Manufacturing and Technology (BCMT) department.

Potential automation work includes developing code for process control, monitoring, and visualization, and creating efficiency tools for the automation group and BCMT department. Process operations work may include improving knowledge-management resources, supporting equipment qualification, and assisting with GMP manufacturing. Capital work may include equipment specification, installation, testing, and qualification. Across these areas, work may involve meetings, code development, GMP change controls and documentation, equipment testing, document generation, and field execution of equipment commissioning and qualification.

The co-op is expected to communicate work results verbally and in writing, complete required training, comply with Quality systems, collaborate across functional teams, and maintain attention to personal and team safety. Candidates must be enrolled in at least a bachelor’s program in engineering, computer science, data science, chemistry, biology, or another relevant discipline, and must be available to work full-time for 4–6 months in 2027, during either June–November or March–August. The position is hybrid, first-shift/day, and has no travel requirement. The stated salary range is $39,908–$111,111.

Requirements

• Be enrolled in at least a BS/BA program in engineering, computer science, data science, chemistry, biology, or another relevant discipline.
• Be available to work full-time for 4–6 months in 2027, during June–November or March–August.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team; self-motivation, adaptability, and a positive attitude.
• Ability to learn new techniques, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, keep accurate records, follow instructions, and comply with company policies.
• Effective organizational, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Automation: Programming experience, especially Python, and/or process control experience (PLC, DeltaV, etc.).
• Automation: Previous GMP, manufacturing, and/or equipment experience.
• Automation: Willingness to self-learn technologies with initial guidance.
• Process Operations: Demonstrated ability to work in a hands-on laboratory or manufacturing setting.
• Process Operations: Direct experience with cell culture or fermentation and/or downstream purification operations for large molecules, such as vaccines or biologics.
• Capital: Previous GMP, manufacturing, and/or equipment experience.
• Capital: Engineering degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Work under the direction of a project mentor on initiatives within the automation, process operations, or capital sub-team of BCMT.
• For automation projects, develop code for process control, monitoring, and visualization, and develop tools to improve efficiency.
• For process operations projects, review and clean up SharePoint resources, implement playbooks, update templates, and support new equipment qualification.
• For capital projects, support equipment specification, installation, testing, and qualification.
• Participate in activities such as GMP manufacturing support, equipment and system testing, GMP change controls, documentation, and equipment commissioning and qualification.
• Communicate the results of work in verbal and written formats.
• Complete required training, comply with Quality systems, collaborate across functional teams, and maintain attention to safety.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern