Sr. Specialist, Technical Support

MSD • Rahway, NJ

1d • $106,200 - $167,200 • 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 in regulated research, pilot plant, and clinical manufacturing environments. The 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 position supports 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 specialist works closely with scientists, engineers, infrastructure teams, quality organizations, vendors, and site operations to improve system reliability, operational efficiency, and business productivity.

As a key technology leader for the Rahway site, this role drives proactive troubleshooting, infrastructure modernization, and continuous improvement in support of biologics development and clinical manufacturing. It also supports digital transformation efforts involving system integration, data connectivity, analysis and modelling, validation methods, and value-based manufacturing optimization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a Life Science discipline or at least 3 years of equivalent practical experience in automation control systems within a regulated environment.
• At least 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, data archival and retention strategies, Windows Server administration, and regulated computerized systems.
• 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 in pharmaceutical manufacturing and operational workflows.
• Experience supporting 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 in plant automation and industrial control environments.
• 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.
• At least 5 years of hands-on DeltaV batch automation experience.
• Demonstrated success diagnosing and resolving automation and software-related issues while ensuring reliable control-system operation and adherence to global engineering and operational standards.
• Experience supporting commissioning and qualification (C&Q) of automated and computerized systems in alignment with Computer System Validation (CSV) requirements in GxP-regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of GxP, Quality Management Systems, Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) requirements, and regulatory compliance practices.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with automation engineers, process engineers, manufacturing operations, cybersecurity teams, infrastructure teams, quality stakeholders, and external vendors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce technical documentation, communicate complex concepts clearly, and manage stakeholder relationships.
• Working knowledge of Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies, validation practices, change management, computerized system lifecycle management, and regulated system support standards.
• Strong technical competency and knowledge of pharmaceutical industry processes and practices.
• Demonstrated understanding of network, cloud, and virtual server technologies.
• Enterprise mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and a self-starting, self-guided, hands-on approach.
• Ability to work independently and asynchronously across time zones, with communication skills that cross cultural, geographic, and organizational boundaries.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team of scientists and IT/OT personnel and product teams, and operating effectively in a matrixed environment with a customer-centric attitude.
• Valid driving license.

Nice To Haves

• DeltaV batch automation experience in a regulated pharmaceutical or life sciences environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement of IT/OT infrastructure for 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, 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.
• 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 Business Automation stakeholders and Product teams to evaluate and implement automation technologies that improve research, pilot plant, and manufacturing capabilities and enable data connectivity and operational insights.
• Engage equipment manufacturers, automation vendors, system integrators, and technology suppliers to assess, select, and deploy industrial automation solutions.
• Support investigations, diagnostics, and issue resolution 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 and best practices.
• Design and develop secure HMI application components within IT/OT platforms, including DeltaV DCS, control Historian, and PLCs.
• Support integration of OT and HMI applications with gateways, control systems, and communication protocols.
• Administer ROBO systems, build servers, and support backup and recovery.
• Provide local network support, including access-switch provisioning and troubleshooting.
• Manage IP assignments for Rahway and West Point, including the VIM network.
• Administer firewall rules for systems communicating between different VLANs at Rahway, including BAS, Empower, LabX, Thermo, and DeltaV Mobile.
• Set up and troubleshoot DeltaV virtual controllers.
• Actively support Digital Transformation initiatives involving system integrations, data connectivity, data analysis and modelling, validation methods, and value-based manufacturing optimization.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision healthcare and other insurance benefits for employees and family.
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k).
• Paid holidays.
• Vacation.
• Compassionate and sick days.
• Annual bonus eligibility.
• Long-term incentive eligibility, if applicable.

What This Job Offers

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