Sr. Specialist, Technical Support

MSD • Rahway, NJ

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

RaDS IT Development Science & Clinical Supplies (DSCS) is seeking an experienced Senior Specialist to lead and support Operational Technology (OT), industrial automation, process controls, and IT/OT infrastructure initiatives within regulated research, pilot plant, and clinical manufacturing environments. This role is responsible for the design, implementation, integration, and lifecycle support of automation and control systems that enable reliable, compliant, and efficient plant operations. The successful candidate will work across current and emerging plant automation technologies, including PLCs, HMI, SCADA, DCS/DeltaV, MES, PI Historian, virtualization platforms, industrial networking, OT cybersecurity, and system integration. The role requires close collaboration with scientists, engineers, infrastructure teams, quality organizations, vendors, and site operations to enhance system reliability, operational efficiency, and business productivity. In addition, the role drives proactive troubleshooting, infrastructure modernization, and continuous improvement efforts that support biologics development and clinical manufacturing operations. As a key technology leader for the Rahway site, the incumbent will collaborate closely with scientists, engineers, site operations, quality, infrastructure teams, architects, and external vendors to enhance system reliability, operational efficiency, productivity, and overall business value.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a Life Science discipline or min 3 years equivalent practical experience in automation control systems within regulated environment.
• Minimum 5 years of experience supporting upstream manufacturing, pilot plant operations, process automation, or manufacturing automation environments, including technologies such as DeltaV, Eppendorf, AMBR, DCS, PLC, HMI, SCADA, industrial control systems, networking, virtualization, server platforms, capital projects, and PI Historian integration .
• At least 4 years of hands-on experience with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs , HMI development and configuration, SCADA applications, OT cybersecurity, OT data architecture, MES platforms, industrial networking, and IT/OT convergence initiatives.
• Strong working knowledge of VMware environments , virtualized OT infrastructure, DeltaV systems, PI/PI Historian, MES platforms, SCADA backup and recovery processes, data archival and retention strategies, Windows Server administration, and support of regulated computerized systems.
• Proven experience designing and supporting industrial network architectures , including switches, VLANs, subnets, firewalls, Active Directory, server infrastructure, virtualization technologies, and OT network segmentation.
• Understanding of integrated manufacturing and laboratory systems, including SCADA, MES, and LIMS , and their application within pharmaceutical manufacturing and operational workflows.
• Experience supporting a wide range of manufacturing and automation technologies, including Ignition, SAP, MES, PLC, HMI, SCADA, DCS, industrial PCs, servers, network switches, firewalls, and related infrastructure components .
• Demonstrated expertise in troubleshooting, incident management, root cause analysis, operational support, and problem resolution within plant automation and industrial control environments.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain sustainable support models for plant automation and OT infrastructure, including governance, ownership, escalation processes, monitoring strategies, operational runbooks, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience leading and coordinating multiple automation, controls, OT infrastructure, and system integration projects simultaneously.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on DeltaV batch automation experience , preferably within a regulated pharmaceutical or life sciences environment.
• Demonstrated success in diagnosing and resolving automation and software-related issues while ensuring reliable operation of control systems and adherence to global engineering and operational standards.
• Experience supporting the commissioning and qualification (C&Q) of automated and computerized systems in alignment with Computer System Validation (CSV) requirements within GxP-regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of GxP, Quality Management Systems, Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) requirements, and regulatory compliance practices.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in collaborative, cross-functional environments with automation engineers, process engineers, manufacturing operations, cybersecurity teams, infrastructure teams, quality stakeholders, and external vendors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce technical documentation, communicate complex concepts clearly, and manage stakeholder relationships effectively.
• Working knowledge of Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies, validation practices, change management processes, computerized system lifecycle management, and regulated system support standards.
• Strong technical competency with knowledge of pharmaceutical industry processes & practices.
• Demonstrated understanding of network, cloud and virtual server technologies.
• Enterprise mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, self-starter, self-guided, hands-on person.
• Record of working independently, asynchronously (across time zones) and with excellent communication skills that cross culture / geographic / organizational boundaries.

Nice To Haves

• 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
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Strong advocate & drive continuous improvement of IT/OT infrastructure supporting plant automation, process control, and manufacturing operations by identifying technology gaps, optimization opportunities, and modernization initiatives.
• Design, implement, maintain, and support secure OT environments for GMP manufacturing and pilot plant facilities, including industrial control systems, network infrastructure, and cybersecurity controls.
• Lead or contribute to automation and infrastructure projects by developing technical requirements, project estimates, commissioning readiness plans, and implementation strategies.
• Collaborate with scientists, process engineers, automation engineers, controls specialists, infrastructure teams, and vendors to translate operational requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Support and influence solution architecture for automation ecosystems, including industrial control systems, SCADA platforms, MES, PI Historian, virtualization environments, industrial networks, cloud-connected services, and on-premises infrastructure.
• Provide advanced technical support for automation and OT systems through troubleshooting, incident management, root cause analysis, and continuous service improvement activities.
• Develop and maintain IT/OT architecture and infrastructure documentation, including network topologies, server environments, virtual platforms, backup and recovery solutions, data interfaces, and system integrations.
• Partner with various Business Automation stakeholders & Product teams, to evaluate and implement automation technologies that improve research, pilot plant, and manufacturing capabilities while enabling data connectivity and operational insights.
• Engage with equipment manufacturers, automation vendors, system integrators, and technology suppliers to assess, select, and deploy industrial automation solutions.
• Support investigations, diagnostics, and issue resolution activities while working closely with infrastructure, engineering, cybersecurity, quality, compliance, and risk management teams to ensure reliable and compliant operations
• Build, maintain, and support OT infrastructure for GMP manufacturing and pilot plant operations, including secure industrial networks, control systems, and OT compliance standards & best practices.
• Provide technical support for automation systems, control systems, and OT infrastructure, including troubleshooting, incident resolution, root cause analysis, and continuous service improvement.
• Design and develop secure Human-Machine Interface (HMI) application components within the IT/OT platforms (DeltaV DCS, control Historian, Programmable Logic Controller (PLCs))
• Support integration of OT and HMI applications with gateways, control systems, and communication protocols
• ROBO administration, Server builds and Backup and recovery
• Local Network support - Access switch provisioning and trouble shooting.
• Complete control of all IP assignments for Rahway/West Point including VIM network.
• Firewall rules administration for systems that work between different VLANs at Rahway (BAS, Empower, LabX, Thermo, DeltaV mobile)
• Delta V virtual controller set up and troubleshooting.
• Actively supports Digital Transformation initiatives involving system integrations, data connectivity, data analysis/modelling, validation methods and value-based optimization of manufacturing.

Benefits

• 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

What This Job Offers

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