Senior Project Engineer
Our Manufacturing Operations teams are the people that make our products. We work in the manufacturing plants with a “Safety First, Quality Always” mindset striving for continuous improvement. We work in the local plant connected to our global manufacturing network to ensure the highest quality of raw materials, intermediates and finished products.
With our extensive range of products and manufacturing facilities, our engineers could explore developmental opportunities across a broad spectrum of business areas including Engineering, Maintenance Excellence, Automation, Capital Projects and Process Development.
In this role, you will:
ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Capital Projects Delivery
· Facilitate capital tier meetings to review portfolio status, risks and decisions, drive cross‑functional alignment on priorities and resources, and ensure timely escalation and closure of actions to keep projects on schedule and within scope/budget.
· Drive project portfolio governance by establishing a structured pipeline to prioritize, approve, resource, and track projects (scope/schedule/cost/benefits/risks), ensuring alignment to site strategy, compliance requirements, and available capacity.
· Lead and execute capital projects (equipment upgrades, lifecycle replacements, safety and compliance improvements etc) from concept through handover.
· Develop project scope, schedules, cost estimates, risk registers, and execution plans aligned with site governance.
· Manage project stakeholders and ensure effective coordination with Operations, Maintenance, Automation, Quality, Validation, EHS, Procurement, and external vendors/contractors.
· Ensure project execution meets defined delivery outcomes and completed on time within budget.
New Product Introduction / New Equipment Introduction
· Provide engineering leadership and technical coordination to enable successful introduction of new products and new equipment into manufacturing.
· Drive equipment readiness activities including URS development/review, design review for maintainability and reliability, and commissioning planning.
· Coordinate and support project deliverables for qualification/validation readiness in partnership with Operations, Maintenance, Validation and Quality.
· Ensure robust handover to Operations and Maintenance (SOPs, job plans/PM tasks, spare parts strategy, training, documentation, asset master).
Technical Governance, Change Control & Documentation
· Lead and support engineering change controls for project modifications, ensuring appropriate risk assessment, documentation updates, and stakeholder approvals.
· Maintain accurate project documentation and ensure alignment with data integrity and GMP documentation practices.
· Ensure compliance with internal engineering standards, EHS requirements, and regulatory expectations.
Continuous Improvement
· Identify opportunities to improve project execution efficiency and standardize engineering deliverables (templates, checklists, lessons learned).
· Drive post-implementation reviews and capture lessons learned.
Knowledge Management
· Drive engineering knowledge management by capturing, standardizing, and maintaining technical documentation and lessons learned to strengthen future NPI/project outcomes within a repository.
· Mentor and coach junior engineers on end-to-end project execution.
· Support site Ways of Working / MPS initiatives related to project management, equipment reliability, and operational stability.
Safety & Compliance
· Always uphold and comply with safety standards and never compromise patients’, team’s and personal safety.
· Ensure contractors and vendors comply with site safety practices, permit-to-work requirements, and GMP expectations while working on-site.
· Support audits, inspections, deviations, and CAPA related to engineering projects and equipment changes.
Cross-functional Support (Projects / NPI / Change Control)
· Support equipment change control implementations, including risk assessments, documentation updates, and training needs.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR:
Qualifications & Experience
· Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline.
· Experience delivering engineering projects in a manufacturing environment (pharmaceutical/regulated environment preferred).
· Knowledge of project lifecycle delivery and commissioning/qualification activities (FAT/SAT, CQV, IQ/OQ/PQ) is preferred.
· Familiarity with GMP, change control, deviations/CAPA, and risk assessment tools (e.g., FMEA, HAZOP) is an advantage.
· Project Management certification (e.g., PMP) is an advantage.
Professional Competencies
· Strong planning, prioritization, and execution discipline
· Structured problem-solving and risk management mindset
· Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
· Ability to influence cross-functional teams and vendors without authority
· High ownership, integrity, and continuous improvement mindset
· Team collaboration and learning orientation
Job Requirements
· Ability to work in manufacturing environments and support on-site commissioning/start-up activities when required.
· May be required to support off-hours, weekends, public holidays, and shutdown windows as operational needs require.
This is a 2 year contract position.
Required Skills:
Adaptability, Adaptability, Capital Projects, Chemical Engineering, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Driving Continuous Improvement, Electrical Systems, Engineering Design, Engineering Leadership, Equipment Maintenance, Foster Innovation, GMP Compliance, Hardware Upgrades, Manufacturing Processes, Mechanical Troubleshooting, Project Documentation, Project Management, Regulatory Compliance, Risk Assessments, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Safety Procedures, Stakeholder Management, Structured Problem Solving {+ 2 more}
Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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:
Temporary (Fixed Term)
Relocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
07/7/2026
*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.

At MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA in the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.msd.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.