Specialist, Technical Support

RaDS IT Development Science & Clinical Supplies (DSCS) is seeking an experienced Specialist, Plant Automation, OT Infrastructure, Controls & Industrial Automation 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 primary location is Rahway, NJ and will provide support services to other sites like West Point, PA

The purpose of this role is to provide dedicated IT/OT support, including problem identification and troubleshooting of infrastructure, in compliance with cGMP standards for various Research laboratory & Manufacturing Plant systems . The role also contributes to continuous improvement initiatives supporting the Biologics development and clinical manufacturing & supplies, The role is responsible for supporting and advancing Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) capabilities across manufacturing and pilot plant environments. This position partners closely with engineering, automation, infrastructure, quality, and business stakeholders to deliver secure, reliable, compliant, and scalable automation solutions that enable operational excellence, * Drive continuous improvement of IT/OT infrastructure supporting plant automation, process control, industrial automation, and manufacturing operations by identifying technology gaps, performance trends, modernization opportunities, and infrastructure optimization initiatives.

• Design, implement, support, and maintain OT infrastructure for GMP manufacturing and pilot plant environments, including industrial networks, control systems, virtualization platforms, and cybersecurity controls.
• Lead and support project activities including requirements gathering, technical solution design, infrastructure planning, effort estimation, commissioning readiness, deployment, and operational support.
• Collaborate with scientists, automation engineers, process engineers, controls engineers, infrastructure teams, and external vendors to translate business and operational requirements into technical solutions.
• Contribute to the architecture and implementation of plant automation technologies, including SCADA, MES, PI Historian, virtualization platforms, industrial networking, on-premises infrastructure, and cloud-connected solutions.
• Provide technical expertise and operational support for automation and control systems through incident management, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous service improvement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain IT/OT architecture documentation, including network topology diagrams, system interfaces, data flow maps, server infrastructure, backup and recovery designs, and integration architectures.
• Partner with Research & Development and manufacturing stakeholders to identify opportunities for automation, digitalization, process optimization, and data integration across laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments.
• Evaluate and implement automation technologies through collaboration with equipment manufacturers, system integrators, automation vendors, and technology partners.
• Support investigations, diagnostics, issue resolution, and compliance activities while working closely with engineering, infrastructure, cybersecurity, quality, risk, and regulatory teams., * Serve as a primary technical resource supporting manufacturing operations in Rahway, NJ acting as a key liaison with Networking, Infrastructure, and Global Information Organization (GIO) teams for incident and request management., * Ensure Service Level Agreements (SLAs), operational metrics, and vendor governance processes are established, maintained, and effectively managed.
• Influence system design, deployment, and lifecycle management to deliver robust, scalable, sustainable, and highly available solutions that support critical manufacturing processes.
• Operate, administer, and maintain OT platforms, applications, and supporting technologies across manufacturing and pilot plant environments.
• Support asset lifecycle management, including asset inventory, configuration management, system documentation, and compliance reporting.
• Lead or support deviation investigations, SDLC ITIL change management activities, and engineering documentation processes while ensuring adherence to regulatory, quality, and compliance standards & best practices.

Desired Focus Areas

Operational Technology (OT)

Manufacturing Automation

Process Control Systems

Industrial Networks

SCADA / HMI

MES Platforms

PI Historian

GMP Manufacturing Support

Cybersecurity for Industrial Control Systems

IT Infrastructure & Virtualization

Data Integration & Analytics

ITIL Service Management

Compliance & Validation

The role is responsible for supporting and advancing Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) capabilities across manufacturing and pilot plant environments. This position partners closely with engineering, automation, infrastructure, quality, and business stakeholders to deliver secure, reliable, compliant, and scalable automation solutions that enable operational excellence

Primary Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement of IT/OT infrastructure supporting plant automation, process control, industrial automation, and manufacturing operations by identifying technology gaps, performance trends, modernization opportunities, and infrastructure optimization initiatives.
• Design, implement, support, and maintain OT infrastructure for GMP manufacturing and pilot plant environments, including industrial networks, control systems, virtualization platforms, and cybersecurity controls.
• Lead and support project activities including requirements gathering, technical solution design, infrastructure planning, effort estimation, commissioning readiness, deployment, and operational support.
• Collaborate with scientists, automation engineers, process engineers, controls engineers, infrastructure teams, and external vendors to translate business and operational requirements into technical solutions.
• Contribute to the architecture and implementation of plant automation technologies, including SCADA, MES, PI Historian, virtualization platforms, industrial networking, on-premises infrastructure, and cloud-connected solutions.
• Provide technical expertise and operational support for automation and control systems through incident management, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous service improvement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain IT/OT architecture documentation, including network topology diagrams, system interfaces, data flow maps, server infrastructure, backup and recovery designs, and integration architectures.
• Partner with Research & Development and manufacturing stakeholders to identify opportunities for automation, digitalization, process optimization, and data integration across laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments.
• Evaluate and implement automation technologies through collaboration with equipment manufacturers, system integrators, automation vendors, and technology partners.
• Support investigations, diagnostics, issue resolution, and compliance activities while working closely with engineering, infrastructure, cybersecurity, quality, risk, and regulatory teams., * Ensure Service Level Agreements (SLAs), operational metrics, and vendor governance processes are established, maintained, and effectively managed.
• Influence system design, deployment, and lifecycle management to deliver robust, scalable, sustainable, and highly available solutions that support critical manufacturing processes.
• Operate, administer, and maintain OT platforms, applications, and supporting technologies across manufacturing and pilot plant environments.
• Support asset lifecycle management, including asset inventory, configuration management, system documentation, and compliance reporting.
• Lead or support deviation investigations, SDLC ITIL change management activities, and engineering documentation processes while ensuring adherence to regulatory, quality, and compliance standards & best practices.

Desired Focus Areas

Operational Technology (OT)

Manufacturing Automation

Process Control Systems

Industrial Networks

SCADA / HMI

MES Platforms

PI Historian

GMP Manufacturing Support

Cybersecurity for Industrial Control Systems

IT Infrastructure & Virtualization

Data Integration & Analytics

ITIL Service Management

Compliance & Validation

• 4 years of experience with upstream manufacturing systems, pilot plant automation, process automation, or manufacturing automation platforms such as DeltaV, Eppendorf, AMBR, DCS, PLC, HMI, SCADA, control systems, networking, virtualization, server management, capital projects, and PI Historian data integration.
• 4 years of hands-on experience with Rockwell / Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMI configuration, SCADA systems, OT cybersecurity, OT data architecture, MES, industrial networking, or IT/OT integration.
• 4 years of knowledge of VMware, virtualized OT environments, DeltaV, PI / PI Historian, MES, SCADA backup and archival, data retention, Windows servers, and regulated computer system support.
• 4 years of experience with industrial networking, switches, VLANs, subnets, firewalls, Windows Active Directory, virtual infrastructure, servers, and OT network segmentation.
• Experience supporting manufacturing software and hardware, including Ignition, MES, SAP, HMI, PLC, SCADA, DCS, industrial PCs, servers, switches, firewalls, and network equipment.
• Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, problem-solving, incident management, and operational support skills in plant automation or industrial control systems.
• Experience building support models for plant automation, OT infrastructure, and industrial control systems, including ownership, escalation, runbooks, monitoring, and improvement.
• Ability to lead multiple IT, OT infrastructure, controls, automation, and system integration projects.
• Execute ITIL-based service management processes, including incident, problem, change, and release management.
• Monitor system health, performance, availability, and reliability to ensure uninterrupted support of manufacturing operations.
• Establish strong partnerships with site leadership and stakeholders to ensure alignment on technology strategy, service expectations, and business objectives., * 5 years of engineering experience in Automation in Chemical or Pharmaceutical industry
• High School Diploma required.
• Strong technical competency with knowledge of pharmaceutical industry processes & practices.
• Demonstrated understanding of network, cloud and virtual server technologies.
• Knowledge of integrated software applications, including SCADA, MES and LIMS systems, in support of business processes in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment
• Enterprise mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, self-starter, self-guided, hands-on person ., * Record of working in a team of multidisciplinary scientists, IT/OT personnel, Product teams & operating effectively in a matrixed environment with a customer centric attitude, Asset Life Cycle Management, Automation, Availability Management, Business Alignment, Change Controls, Change Management, Delivery Coordination, Incident Management, Management System Development, Monitor System Performance, Operation Maintenance, Problem Reporting, Quality Assurance (QA), Root Cause Identification, SLA Management, Software Configurations, System Maintenance, Virtualization, VMware Administration

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 (https://www.msdprivacy.com/us/en/CCPA-notice/)

The salary range for this role is

$87,300.00 - $137,400.00

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.