Senior Specialist, Engineering

Merck • De Soto, KS

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The function of Senior Specialist, Engineering at Bio Technology and Solutions (BTS) - Tech Hub will have a focus in Vaccine and Biologicals processes development for Manufacturing. BTS Tech Hub is responsible for process development of production processes. Within a multidisciplinary environment you will cooperate with your colleagues at BTS, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality and R&D. Your main field of attention is to provide all round technological support on Vaccine and Biologicals Manufacturing of new (R&D) products.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, Protein Chemistry, Microbiology +5 years’ experience in vaccine/biopharmaceuticals Research and Development, Process Development and/or Biological manufacturing or closely related field (or Master degree + 3 years’ experience or PhD in related field).
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Excellent project management, documentation and writing
• Excellent teamwork
• Strong problem-solving skills and a hands-on approach to solving problems inclusive of diverse perspectives (e.g. safety, compliance)
• Work together in multidisciplinary and international teams
• Required Skills: Adaptability, Data Analysis, Interpersonal Relationships, Manufacturing Processes, Production Process Development, Project Management, Regulatory Compliance, Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Nice To Haves

• Experience in bioprocess scale up and vaccine manufacturing
• Working knowledge of USDA regulations
• Knowledge of GMP requirements for manufacture and testing of biological products
• Understanding of statistics and application to process monitoring and control
• Molecular biology, replicon particles, cell cultivation
• 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
• U.S. Hybrid Work Model
• Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
• 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 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: Not Applicable
• Shift: 1st - Day
• Valid Driving License: Yes
• Hazardous Material(s): Yes
• Job Posting End Date: 05/16/2026
• 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.
• Requisition ID:R395523

Responsibilities

• Leads and works independently as a team member on the development and scale up of processes or technologies of microbial, virus and cell cultivations, biomolecules concentration and purification and final formulation of veterinary vaccines and therapeutics.
• Leads and works independently as a team member on the transfer of processes or technologies of microbial, virus and cell cultivations, biomolecules concentration and purification and final formulation of veterinary vaccines and therapeutics to the production lines.
• Leads and works independently as a team member on the development of processes or technologies and its transfer to the production lines within the timelines set for this purpose, whereby these processes and technologies meet the requirements of the customer with regard to safety, quality, cost-efficiency, practical applicability and consistency.
• Leads and works independently as a team member on technical investigations, validation and/or process improvement projects.
• Examines issues from diverse perspectives (safety, compliance, automation, equipment, process and people) in order to best understand and resolve the root cause.
• Whether or not in collaboration with team members from other departments (e.g. QC, Pharmaceutical Technical Support, R&D, Production or Analytical Technical Services) gives direction to scientifically based decisions within projects aimed at the improvement of products, solving problems or development of new products.
• Implement development, introduction and/or testing of new technologies
• Collaborates and interfaces with R&D and Manufacturing and other departments to bring new products to market.
• Leads large cross-functional teams and demonstrates working knowledge of current USDA regulatory guidelines and advanced technical knowledge.
• Develops project charters and project plans and align with all sponsors and stakeholders.
• Key capabilities include standard project management activities: development of timelines, use of project tracking tools, definition of deliverables, definition of roles and responsibilities, risk identification tracking and mitigation.
• Coordinates and tracks team activities by leading or participating in core team meetings, communicates project risks and status to appropriate stakeholders and escalates issues to sponsors as needed in advance of deviation from project plans.
• In concert with Commercialization, Quality, and Regulatory, support inspection readiness.
• Assures consistent application of standardized work, engineering and process tools
• Conducts and design experimental protocols as needed using the Technical Operations lab facilities and/or production equipment at full scale.
• Creates and updates technical and manufacturing documents necessary for investigations, process design/definition, engineering studies, process demonstrations, change control and validation.
• Displays our Company leadership behaviors and demonstrate a high emotional intelligence
• Effectively collaborates with peers on site and above site as required.
• Contributes to international projects (Global Projects).
• Interacts closely with fellow scientists from your own and other departments. If required with external collaboration partners.
• Actively contributes to the improvement or acceleration of activities within the department, also in the field of Environment Health and Safety.
• Trains and guides employees and / or trainees

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days

What This Job Offers

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