Manager, Engineering

Merck • Millsboro, DE

10d • $106,200 - $167,200 • Onsite

About The Position

The Engineering Manager provides strategic and tactical engineering leadership for the Millsboro facility, supporting safe, compliant, and reliable operation of production and utility systems. The role leads engineering resources and cross-functional project teams in developing, executing, and supporting medium to large capital and maintenance-related projects, with project values ranging from approximately $50,000 to $60 million.

The Engineering Manager ensures alignment with site and corporate engineering, safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements. The position supports long-range capital planning, asset reliability, maintenance strategy, equipment and system performance improvement, and project turnover to operations and maintenance. It serves as a technical and leadership resource for biological production systems, critical utilities, and related site infrastructure.

The role leads projects from concept through completion; develops project scopes, budgets, schedules, and execution plans; oversees design, commissioning, qualification, validation, and turnover; and works with site leadership and cross-functional partners. It also leads and coaches a team of five, contractors, EPCMs, consultants, and vendors; supports maintenance and reliability improvements; ensures documentation and compliance; and serves as a technical liaison for internal stakeholders and potentially other company facilities in the U.S. and globally.

The position is located in Millsboro, Delaware. It is a regular, first-shift/day role with travel requirements listed as 10% and relocation listed as domestic. The role may involve outdoor exposure, high noise, moving mechanical parts, and production-related chemicals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required; preferred disciplines include Mechanical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Construction Science/Management, Chemical Engineering, or Industrial Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience leading engineering projects and/or maintenance engineering activities in a highly regulated industry such as biotech, pharma, food, nuclear, or energy.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects in the $250,000 to $60 million range.
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills, with ability to evaluate issues from safety, compliance, automation, equipment, process, and people perspectives.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering documents, drawings, schematics, and technical specifications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven leadership, teamwork, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work hands-on with production personnel, maintenance teams, and contractors in plant and field environments.
• Experience in FDA-, USDA-, and/or EU-regulated environments.
• Proficiency with basic office software and ability to learn CMMS and other site systems to analyze maintenance history and support asset management activities.
• Willingness to work in environments that may include outdoor exposure, high noise, moving mechanical parts, and production-related chemicals.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a USDA-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Lean Six Sigma training or certification.
• CAD and/or Bluebeam experience.
• Experience with CappApp and Steering Committee reporting systems.
• Experience leading maintenance or reliability improvement programs.
• Experience in capital planning, asset lifecycle management, or engineering leadership.
• Project Management Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering activities for capital, maintenance, reliability, and infrastructure projects from concept through completion.
• Develop, review, and manage project scopes, budgets, schedules, and execution plans in accordance with site and corporate requirements.
• Partner with site leadership, operations, maintenance, quality, EHS, GES (global engineering supply), and finance to prioritize and execute engineering initiatives.
• Support and/or lead development of long-range capital plans and site master planning activities.
• Oversee design, execution, commissioning, qualification, validation, and turnover activities for assigned projects.
• Provide engineering oversight for systems supporting biological production operations, including fermentation, downstream processing, biological containment, decontamination, sterile filling, freeze drying, packaging, and critical utilities.
• Lead and coach engineering staff, contractors, EPCMs, consultants, and vendors to ensure successful project delivery.
• Support maintenance strategy development, asset reliability improvements, and lifecycle management of equipment and systems.
• Ensure engineering solutions support equipment uptime, maintainability, safety, and operational efficiency.
• Drive root cause analysis, problem-solving, and corrective action implementation for chronic equipment or system issues.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, environmental, quality, and code requirements.
• Manage quality change requests, safety MOCs, PHAs, ergonomic and industrial hygiene assessments, and related action plans as needed.
• Develop and/or approve engineering documentation, including URS, FRS, DDS, SOPs, energy control procedures, and commissioning/qualification/validation protocols.
• Review and approve technical documentation developed by external providers.
• Support equipment FAT/SAT activities and ensure proper documentation and follow-up actions.
• Coordinate contractor and end-user safety requirements, including Job Safety Assessments during construction and turnover.
• Review, verify, and approve supplier invoices, purchase orders, and change orders as delegated.
• Ensure drawings, asset documentation, and as-built records are accurately updated and maintained.
• Support project closeout, turnover, and depreciation profile assignment in coordination with Finance and Accounting.
• Train and develop user groups on system use, applications, and operational best practices where needed.
• Serve as a site technical liaison for internal stakeholders and potentially other company facilities in the U.S. and globally.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision healthcare benefits.
• Other insurance benefits for employees and their families.
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k).
• Paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days.
• Eligible for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

What This Job Offers

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