Key Responsibilities
Lead engineering activities for capital, maintenance, reliability, and infrastructure projects from concept through completion.
Develop, review, and manage project scopes, budgets, schedules, and execution plans in accordance with site and corporate requirements.
Partner with site leadership, operations, maintenance, quality, EHS, GES (global engineering supply) and finance to prioritize and execute engineering initiatives.
Support and/or lead the development of long-range capital plans and site master planning activities.
Oversee design, execution, commissioning, qualification, validation, and turnover activities for assigned projects.
Provide engineering oversight for systems supporting biological production operations, including:
bacterial and cell fermentation
downstream processing
biological containment
decontamination systems
sterile filling
freeze drying
packaging operations
critical utilities
Lead and coach engineering staff (team of 5), contractors, EPCMs, consultants, and vendors to ensure successful project delivery.
Support maintenance strategy development, asset reliability improvements, and lifecycle management of equipment and systems.
Ensure engineering solutions support equipment uptime, maintainability, safety, and operational efficiency.
Drive root cause analysis, problem-solving, and corrective action implementation for chronic equipment or system issues.
Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, environmental, quality, and code requirements.
Manage quality change requests, safety MOCs, PHAs, ergonomic and industrial hygiene assessments, and related action plans as needed.
Develop and/or approve engineering documentation, including
URS – User Requirement Specification
FRS – Functional Requirement Specification
DDS – Detailed Design Specification
SOPs
Energy control procedures
Commissioning/qualification/validation protocols
Review and approve technical documentation developed by external providers.
Support equipment FAT/SAT activities and ensure proper documentation and follow-up actions.
Coordinate contractor and end-user safety requirements, including Job Safety Assessments during construction and turnover.
Review, verify, and approve supplier invoices, purchase orders, and change orders as delegated.
Ensure drawings, asset documentation, and as-built records are updated accurately and maintained.
Support project closeout, turnover, and depreciation profile assignment in coordination with Finance and Accounting.
Train and develop user groups on system use, applications, and operational best practices where needed.
Serve as a site technical liaison for internal stakeholders and potentially for other company facilities in the U.S. and globally.
Education Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in engineering required, preferably in one of the following:
Mechanical Engineering
Architectural Engineering
Construction Science / Management
Chemical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Required Experience and Skills
10+ years of experience leading engineering projects and/or maintenance engineering activities in a highly regulated industry such as biotech, pharma, food, nuclear, or energy.
Demonstrated experience managing projects in the $250K to $60M range.
Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills with the ability to evaluate issues from multiple perspectives, including safety, compliance, automation, equipment, process, and people.
Ability to read and interpret engineering documents, drawings, schematics, and technical specifications.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Proven leadership, teamwork, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Ability to work hands-on with production personnel, maintenance teams, and contractors in plant and field environments.
Experience in FDA, USDA, and/or EU regulated environments.
Proficiency with basic office software and ability to learn CMMS and other site systems to analyze maintenance history and support asset management activities.
Willingness to work in environments that may include outdoor exposure, high noise, moving mechanical parts, and production-related chemicals.
Preferred Skills and Experience
Experience in a USDA-regulated manufacturing environment.
Lean Six Sigma training or certification.
CAD and/or Bluebeam experience.
Experience with CappApp and Steering Committee reporting systems.
Experience leading maintenance or reliability improvement programs.
Experience in capital planning, asset lifecycle management, or engineering leadership.
Additional Notes
Position location: Millsboro
Travel: less than 10%
Required Skills
Chemicals, Detailed Design, Documentations, Engineering Standards, Equipment Maintenance, Estimation and Planning, Global Engineering, Lead Engineering, Maintenance Engineering, Manufacturing Quality Control, Process Optimization, Professional Engineering, Project Engineering, Team Leadership, Technical Problem-Solving, Utilities Management
Preferred Skills
Project Management Engineering
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:
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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.
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The primary location for this posting is
USA - Delaware - Millsboro (Intervet)
Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.
The salary range for the primary location of this role is
$106,200.00 - $167,200.00
This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.
Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.
Additional location(s) Compensation Information
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 in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status
Regular
Relocation
Domestic
VISA Sponsorship
Yes
Travel Requirements
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements
Not Applicable
Shift
1st - Day
Valid Driving License
Yes
Hazardous Material(s)
n/a
Job Posting End Date
- 11/13/2026
- 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.
