We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate Specialist to join the Continuous Improvement team in Durham, North Carolina. The Associate Specialist, Technical Operations engineer is responsible for providing technical support to the vaccine manufacturing areas within Technical Operations with a focus on process improvement and high impact projects. Position Responsibilities: • Implementing continuous improvement projects as well as supporting equipment and investigations as required. • Supports and/or executes continuous improvement projects that increase compliance, simplify/ standardize and/or gain efficiencies. • Provides technical support to manufacturing for complex problems and issues including process/equipment. • Designs and conducts experimental protocols as needed using the Technical Operations lab facilities and/or production equipment at full scale. • Authors and updates technical and manufacturing documents necessary for engineering studies, change control. • Supports regulatory inspection activities for the facility • Provides on-the-floor support of operational and technical (process/equipment) issues on the shop floor. • Completes projects to improve the performance of our processes, including investigation Corrective/Preventative Actions (CAPAs), projects aimed at improving Right-First-Time performance or preventing/reducing deviations, and value capture projects that seek to improve yield/efficiency, reduce cost, or lower our processing cycle times. • Supports team safety, environmental, and compliance objectives. • Manages project timelines to ensure key compliance and customer due dates are met; escalating any potential delays and develop remediation plans when possible. • Collaborates effectively with the area Coaches, Operators/Mechanics, support groups, Quality, and Planning. Required Experience and Skills: • B.S. Degree in Engineering or Sciences. • Communication, leadership and teamwork skills. • Ability to manage projects/work to schedule/deadlines. Preferred Experience and Skills: • Experience in biologics, vaccine or bulk sterile manufacturing facilities. • Experience using Lean/Six Sigma tools. Travel • Up to 10% #MSJR #EBRG's #VetJobs Required Skills: Adaptability, Applied Mathematics, Chemical Engineering Fundamentals, Chemical Plant Operations, Data Analysis, Engineering Standards, Estimation and Planning, Field Failure Analysis, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Oral Solid Dosage, Process Optimization, Professional Engineering, Site Supervision, Teamwork, Troubleshooting Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE Current Contingent Workers apply HERE The salary range for this role is $71,900.00 - $113,200.00 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. 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: No relocation VISA Sponsorship: No Travel Requirements: 10% Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable Shift: 1st - Day Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): Cleaning Supplies Job Posting End Date: 09/10/2026 *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.