Job DescriptionReporting to the lead of QC Instrumentation & Digital Systems, the Quality Control Instrument Senior Specialist will own instrumentation workstream(s) for new laboratory start-up activities and provide ongoing oversight of the instrument lifecycle post go-live. This role is accountable for ensuring that all analytical instrumentation is procured, qualified, maintained, and managed in compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices, supporting both validation and commercial analytical testing activities.
Key Accountabilities:New Facility & Laboratory Start-Up: - Support the planning and execution of laboratory instrumentation procurement, installation, and the instrument commissioning, qualification activities for new laboratory start-up in collaboration with Engineering, Quality Assurance (QA), and Information Technology (IT) functions
- Author and approve commissioning and qualification protocols and reports, ensuring right-first-time execution
- Lead interactions with instrument vendors, qualification services providers, and external laboratory support groups to ensure execution plans are achieved on schedule
- Coordinate cross-functionally with Quality, Global Engineering Services (GES), and laboratory operations to align commissioning and qualification timelines with overall project milestones
- Support the design of laboratory facilities to ensure instrumentation requirements and functionalities are incorporated
Post Go-Live Instrument Lifecycle Management: - Develop and implement maintenance and calibration strategies that meet business needs and comply with relevant industry and regulatory expectations
- Maintain accountability for the ongoing validated and calibrated state of laboratory instrumentation in support of analytical testing
- Support activities associated with the instrument management quality system, including instrument inventory, lifecycle documentation, periodic reviews, and decommissioning processes
- Lead root cause investigations for instrument-related deviations and implement corrective/preventive actions
- Own instrument-related change controls as required
- Ensure all laboratory instruments and systems are inspection-ready at all times
- Drive continuous improvement of instrumentation processes, leveraging new technologies and industry best practices
Quality & Compliance: - Lead the development of instrument-related documentation including SOPs, policies, and work instructions
- Ensure full compliance with Data Integrity requirements across all instrumentation and connected systems
- Serve as a subject matter expert during health authority inspections, with the ability to defend instrumentation strategies and documentation
- Support implementation and optimization of laboratory IT systems and their connectivity to laboratory instrumentation
Leadership & People Development: - Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior instrument specialists and laboratory personnel
- Support recruitment and training of instrument support personnel
- Lead cross-functional project teams to drive right-first-time execution of instrumentation projects
- Demonstrate change leadership by driving positive improvements in laboratory instrumentation practices
Qualifications / experience Education - Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline (advanced degree preferred)
Experience - Experience: 6-8 years of industry experience working directly in QC testing, instrumentation, and/or technology transfer in a regulated pharmaceutical/biotech environment. And at least 4 years of direct experience in analytical instrumentation commonly used in QC laboratories (e.g., HPLC/UPLC, plate readers, mass spectrometers, analytical balances, etc.)
- Strong Quality background with demonstrated, direct experience supporting or defending content during health authority inspections
- Extensive experience with laboratory instrument commissioning and qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ)
- Proven experience with laboratory start-up projects
- Experience developing and managing maintenance/calibration programs
- Familiarity with instrument qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) and calibration principles
- Experience in cGMP environments and quality management systems is required
- Experience with core laboratory & quality systems including Empower, Softmax Pro, GLIMS, LabX, MODA, Biovia, SAP, Veeva, etc.
Core competencies and skills - Deep knowledge of Data Integrity principles and their application to laboratory instrumentation
- Experience with implementation and optimization of laboratory IT systems (e.g., LIMS, SAP, ELN)
- Prior experience with paperless laboratory environments and digital connectivity
- Cross-functional leadership ability with a track record of driving right-first-time execution
- Demonstrated examples of driving positive change in a regulated environment
- Strong vendor management and relationship skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence at multiple organizational levels
- Strong project management capabilities
Additional Info: - Location: Wilmington Delaware (On-Site)
- Travel: Ability to travel ~10% of the time
Required Skills: Adaptability, Adaptability, Analytical Instrumentation, Analytical Method Development, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), CAPA Management, Change Controls, Decision Making, Decommissioning, Detail-Oriented, Deviation Management, Empower Software, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), IQ OQ PQ, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Software, Mass Spectrometry (MS), Plate Readers, Quality Standards, Regulatory Compliance, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Software Validation, Spectrometry, Statistical Analysis {+ 3 more}
Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:The salary range for this role is
$106,200.00 - $167,200.00
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.
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:No
Travel Requirements:10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:Not Applicable
Shift:1st - Day
Valid Driving License:No
Hazardous Material(s):Yes
Job Posting End Date:07/18/2026
*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. 
