Director of Data Engineering and Analytics

We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. We're at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. Join our company and be part of a team that uses the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.

Within Small Molecule Science & Technology (SM S&T), we are advancing digital and data capabilities that strengthen technical operations, accelerate insight generation, and improve business outcomes across the product lifecycle. The Director, Data Engineering and Analytics is a newly created and exciting role, and we are looking for a data-minded engineer to join Small Molecule Science and Technology (SMS&T) to lead and build a data engineering and analytics team across Technical Operations. 

The Director of Data Engineering and Analytics, reporting to the Executive Director or End to End Technical Leadership Organization, will serve as the technical leader responsible for translating Small Molecule Science & Technology's (SM S&T) data and analytics priorities into execution, adoption, and business value. This role requires who can drive accountability and execution across a highly matrixed organization across SM S&T, Digital Manufacturing Division, Digital CMC, MPI, IT and Global Pharmaceutical Operations to accelerate the deployment, implementation and standardization of digital strategy tools to advance analytics and data engineering capabilities, deliver sustained adoption and measurable business impact.

The Director is expected to bring a strong understating of digital systems and tools, data science and analytics operating effectively at the intersection of business, science, manufacturing, engineering, and digital technology. The role requires a strong technical understanding of unit operations across Small Molecule Drug Substance, Drug Product, Packaging, and Analytical Sciences to maximize value add to the pipeline and inline portfolio.

• →Drive execution of agreed-upon data and analytics priorities across Small Molecule Science & Technology (SM S&T), ensuring progress and measurable business impact.
• →Translate data and analytics strategy into practical implementation plans, clear milestones, and value realization metrics.
• →Partner with SM S&T leadership, Digital Manufacturing Division, Digital CMC, MPI, IT, and site teams to align priorities and remove barriers to execution.
• →Ensure analytics initiatives are anchored in clear business problems and deliver practical value to the organization.
• →Serve as a credible translator between technical SMEs, manufacturing teams, and data/IT partners.
• →Convert complex business and manufacturing needs into practical analytical requirements and scalable solution designs.
• →Influence the data and analytics strategy across partner organizations where alignment is required.
• →Advance the democratization and engineering of data across SM S&T by improving the access, contextualization, and usability of manufacturing and process data.
• →Lead data engineering initiatives to build robust data pipelines, ensuring data quality and accessibility from source systems to analytical platforms.
• →Enable scientists and engineers to directly access and use data to support process monitoring, investigations, and lifecycle management.
• →Drive adoption of capabilities that support Proactive Process Monitoring, Continuous Process Verification, Manufacturing Process Intelligence (MPI), and data-driven decision-making.
• →Lead the implementation and adoption of data and analytics solutions across SM S&T.
• →Apply a strong technical understanding of unit operations across Drug Substance, Drug Product, Packaging, and analytical to ensure analytical tools are effectively utilized across the portfolio.
• →Establish and strengthen user communities to scale adoption beyond centralized expertise.
• →Represent SM S&T business priorities in data governance, portfolio, and demand management forums.
• →Partner with leadership to define the highest-value use cases and ensure resources are focused on impactful priorities.
• →Track progress against priorities and hold teams accountable for delivery, adoption, and value realization.

Required

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Data Science, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline with ten (10) years of required experience. (MS with 8)
• Demonstrated leadership in pharmaceutical manufacturing, technical operations, data engineering, or data science, with a proven track record of driving data-driven transformation in a regulated environment.
• Deep understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, including a strong technical understanding of unit operations across Drug Substance, Drug Product, packaging, and analytical.
• Expertise in manufacturing data systems, process monitoring, and data and analytics technologies supporting technical operations.
• Proven ability to influence across matrix organizations and drive accountability for execution and results.
• Travel to Manufacturing site will be required, estimated at < 10% of time.

Preferred

• Advanced degree (MS, MBA, PharmD, or PhD).
• Experience with manufacturing data and analytics platforms such as DataLynx, SEEQ, MPI, MES, historians, or similar technologies.

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The salary range for this role is

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include 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. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.