Sr. Specialist, Engineering

As a Senior Specialist, Bioprocess Engineer, you will be part of a world-class team at our Center of Excellence in the Animal Health Corridor, contributing directly to the production of veterinary products that improve animal health and welfare globally. 

The Senior Specialist in Bioprocess Engineering team will act as a key technical expert for vaccine manufacturing technology transfers within the region. This individual contributor will lead end-to-end tech transfer of vaccine processes, ensuring robust, compliant, and efficient implementation at receiving sites. The role is responsible for structured knowledge management, proactive technical risk assessment and mitigation ahead of transfers, and ongoing process robustness post-transfer. The Senior Specialist will lead cross-functional technical projects (without direct reports), train and mentor new hires, and provide expert support to manufacturing, quality, and other partners on complex technical topics. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Coordinate and own regional knowledge management implementation for assigned processes, ensuring consistent rollout and adoption across sites (e.g., transfer packages, playbooks, lessons learned, best practices) and effective knowledge sharing within the region. 

• Lead regional vaccine technology transfers end-to-end, ensuring technical readiness and successful implementation at receiving sites. 

• Identify and mitigate technical risks ahead of transfer execution through structured assessments and data-driven action plans. 

• Lead cross-functional technical projects/workstreams that enable transfer success and improve process performance. 

• Train and mentor new hires, strengthening team capability and consistent ways of working. 

• Ensure post-transfer process robustness through monitoring, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement in partnership with sites and Quality. 

• Deliver compliant technical documentation and clear stakeholder communication aligned with quality, regulatory and internal governance. 

Job Requirements 

Education Minimum Requirement: 

• Bachelor’s degree with significant relevant experience in Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, or a related life science/engineering field.  A Master’s degree preferred. 

Required Experience and Skills 

• Minimum 5 years of experience in biopharmaceutical or vaccine manufacturing, process development, or technology transfer. 

• Proven track record in leading tech transfer or major technical projects as an individual contributor. 

• Strong understanding of upstream, downstream, fill-finish and/or lyophilization processes in vaccine or biopharma manufacturing. 

• Experience in vaccine/biopharma-regulated environments 

• Experience with process characterization, scale-up/scale-down, and process robustness. 

• Technical and problem-solving skills to motivate cross-functional team responsible for implementation. 

• Ability to train, coach, and influence others; strong problem-solving and decision-making. 

• High degree of ownership, scientific rigor, and continuous improvement mindset. 

• Proficiency in technical risk assessment and data analysis for process performance. 

• Ability to prioritize, focus on and obtain business results. 

Preferred Experience and Skills 

• Familiarity with USDA regulatory expectations. 

• Excellent technical writing and communication skills for diverse stakeholders. 

• Strong project leadership and cross-functional collaboration without formal line authority. 

Schedule Requirements 

• Able to work first shift, Monday through Friday as base schedule. 

• Off-shift coverage may be required based on manufacturing/transfer activities. 

What We’re Looking For 

We seek individuals who: 

• Demonstrate execution excellence through effective problem-solving and critical thinking. 

• Embrace an entrepreneurial mindset, taking initiative and ownership of their work. 

• Adapt with agility and resilience in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 

• Uphold a safety-first mindset, ensuring the well-being of themselves and their colleagues. 

Why Join Us? 

• Be part of a transformative team that will shape the future of animal health. 

• Work in a region renowned for its skilled workforce, strategic location, and robust infrastructure. 

• Contribute to cutting-edge research and manufacturing of large-molecule vaccines and biologic products. 

• Help us meet growing global demand for our portfolio of animal health solutions  

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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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.