Merck & Co, Inc

Associate Director, Technical Architecture

Merck & Co, Inc$142K — $224K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required
  • 10+ years in Observability, software engineering, SRE, or platform engineering
  • Subject matter expert on Observability practices and telemetry tools (e.g., Grafana, Prometheus)
  • Proven experience with creating and executing technical strategies
  • Deep knowledge of Site Reliability Engineering principles and SLOs
  • Proficiency with OpenTelemetry standards
  • Experience designing solutions across multiple cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Exceptional communication skills for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

  • Create and champion a comprehensive observability strategy across the company
  • Design a full-stack observability solution using industry-leading tools
  • Drive the standardization and consolidation of observability tools
  • Partner with the SRE team to promote SLOs and error budgeting efforts
  • Communicate observability strategies and benefits to senior leadership
  • Act as a senior technical expert, mentoring teams in best practices
  • Research and implement the latest trends in observability tools and practices.

Benefits

  • Flexible work arrangements with the option for remote work
  • Opportunity for significant impact by shaping observability strategy
  • Access to cutting-edge technology and tools
  • Professional development and mentorship opportunities
  • Collaborative work environment across multiple engineering teams.
Full Job Description
Job Description

About the Role

We are seeking a visionary and influential technical leader to join as a Principal Engineer for Observability. In this role, you will be the chief architect and evangelist for our company-wide observability strategy. Your mission is to define and drive the adoption of a unified, full-stack observability framework that empowers our product teams to build and operate highly reliable, performant, and resilient services.

This is not just a technical role; it is a strategic one. You will work across organizational boundaries, from engineering teams to senior leadership, to champion a culture of operational excellence. You will be responsible for rationalizing our tooling landscape, eliminating redundancy, and designing a cohesive, self-service observability platform that is easy to consume. If you are passionate about turning complex technical concepts into clear business value and leading large-scale change, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

What You'll Do
  • Create Strategy: Create, document, and champion a unified, long-term observability strategy for the entire company, covering all telemetry types like metrics, traces, logs, profiles and more.
  • Architect the Future: Design a cohesive, full-stack observability solution using best-in-class tools and practices. Ensure our architecture promotes a product-oriented approach with a strong focus on self-service capabilities.
  • Drive Standardization and Consolidation: Actively identify and help decommission redundant or overlapping tools, driving the organization towards a standardized, cost-effective, and easy-to-manage observability service.
  • Join forces with SRE team: Partner with Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) team, promote their principles, such as defining, measuring, and managing Service Level Objectives (SLOs) and error budgets and how critical Observability for them.
  • Evangelize and Educate: Clearly and persuasively communicate complex observability topics, benefits, and strategic decisions to senior leadership and stakeholders across IT and business domains.
  • Lead by Influence: Act as the senior technical expert and thought leader in the observability space. Mentor engineers and guide teams in implementing best practices for instrumentation (OpenTelemetry), monitoring, and incident analysis using AIOps.
  • Stay on the Cutting Edge: Continuously research industry trends, emerging technologies (like eBPF, OpenTelemetry), and best practices to ensure our observability strategy remains modern and effective.


Must-Have Skills & Experience
  • Education- Bachelor's degree
  • Extensive Technical Experience: 10+ years in Observability, software engineering, SRE, or platform engineering, with a proven track record of architecting and implementing large-scale technical solutions.
  • Deep Observability Expertise: Subject matter expert on Observability practices and collection of all types of telemetry. SME for the tools that support them (e.g., Grafana, Prometheus, Dynatrace, BigPanda, xMatters or others).
  • Strategic Leadership: Demonstrable experience creating and executing a technical strategy across multiple teams or an entire organization.
  • SRE and SLO Mastery: Deep, practical knowledge of Site Reliability Engineering principles, with hands-on experience defining, implementing, and managing SLOs and error budgets.
  • OpenTelemetry Proficiency: Strong understanding and practical experience with the OpenTelemetry standard for instrumentation and telemetry collection.
  • Multi-Cloud Experience: Experience designing solutions that operate across multiple cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP).
  • Exceptional Communication & Influence: World-class ability to explain highly complex technical concepts to senior executives and non-technical audiences. Proven ability to lead by influence and drive consensus in a large organization.


Nice-to-Have Skills & Experience
  • Tool Rationalization: Experience leading projects to consolidate tooling and migrate teams to a centralized platform.
  • FinOps Knowledge: Understanding of cloud cost management principles and how they apply to observability data and tooling.
  • eBPF Knowledge: Familiarity with eBPF for advanced, low-level system observability and performance analysis.
  • Product Mindset: Experience thinking about internal platforms as products, with a focus on user experience, self-service, and clear documentation.


Required Skills:
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Technology, Cybersecurity, Emerging Technologies, Executive Visibility, FinOps Operating Model, Methods and Tools, Operational Excellence, Platform Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Requirements Management, Software Development, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Solution Architecture, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Planning, System Designs, Technical Advice, Telemetry

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Employee Status:
Regular

Relocation:
No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:
No

Travel Requirements:
10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Remote

Shift:
1st - Day

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
N/A

Job Posting End Date:
07/31/2026
*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.

About Merck & Co, Inc

Schering-Plough Corporation is a major U.S.-based manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. It operates in three segments: Prescription Pharmaceuticals, Animal Health, and Consumer Health Care. Schering-Plough develops products targeting on allergy, cancer, hepatitis, cardiovascular, central nervous system, respiratory system, and more.  It was founded in 1851 by Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering as Schering AG in Germany. Schering-Plough manufactured several pharmaceutical drugs, the most well-known of which were the allergy drugs Claritin and Clarinex, an anti-cholesterol drug Vytorin, and a brain tumor drug Temodar. It also developed drugs targeting on central nervous system and the respiratory system. Schering Plough also owned and operated the major foot care brand name Dr. Scholl's and the skin care line Coppertone. These also became a part of the new company. Schering-Plough was a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), a membership which is also maintained by the new Merck.

Merck & Co, Inc Careers

Join the visionary team at Merck & Co, Inc, a global leader in healthcare dedicated to advancing the world of medicine. As part of our professional community, you'll find dynamic job opportunities that foster innovation and leadership across various fields. Merck & Co, Inc is not just a company; it's a place where you can make a difference.

Work You’ll Do

At Merck & Co, Inc, we are committed to improving global health through groundbreaking research and innovative healthcare solutions. Our team is at the forefront of developing new therapies and vaccines that significantly impact public health worldwide. By joining us, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry, using your skills to contribute to projects that save and improve lives around the globe.

Explore Career Paths

Whether you're seeking an internship, a graduate opportunity, or a professional position, Merck & Co, Inc offers a range of career paths in environments that promote rapid professional growth and development. Explore job opportunities in research, digital transformation, manufacturing, and more, all while benefiting from a culture that supports diversity and inclusion.

Innovate and Lead

Merck & Co, Inc is an ideal environment for those who lead with curiosity and the drive to innovate. Our leadership is committed to fostering a culture where inventive thinking and collaboration are encouraged, making it a perfect place for professionals who seek to make an impact through their work.

Develop Your Skills

With Merck & Co, Inc, you are not just getting a job; you're gaining access to unparalleled career development opportunities. Enhance your skills through diverse training programs, workshops, and continuous learning courses designed to help you grow at every stage of your career.

Benefits and Culture

We understand that our employees are our greatest asset, which is why we offer competitive benefits designed to support the health and well-being of you and your family. From comprehensive health care coverage and retirement plans to flexible working conditions and wellness programs, our benefits package is designed to meet the diverse needs of our team members.

Join Our Team

Ready to advance your career at Merck & Co, Inc? Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are continuously hiring and looking for passionate, creative, and solution-driven team players. Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and become part of a company that's dedicated to making a difference.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. Engage with us through our careers blog and by participating in networking events and employment fairs. Subscribe to receive personalized job alerts and the latest news tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Merck & Co, Inc. Join us in our mission to improve health and wellness around the world.
Learn more about Merck & Co, Inc
Size
68,000 employees
Market Cap
$282.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$7 billion
Founded
1668
5 Year Trend
+4.1%
Revenue
$47.9 billion
NASDAQ

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