Job Description
As a Senior Specialist, Bioprocess Engineer, you will be part of a world-class team at our Center of Excellence in the Animal Health Corridor, contributing directly to the production of veterinary products that improve animal health and welfare globally.
The Senior Specialist in Bioprocess Engineering team will act as a key technical expert for vaccine manufacturing technology transfers within the region. This individual contributor will lead end-to-end tech transfer of vaccine processes, ensuring robust, compliant, and efficient implementation at receiving sites. The role is responsible for structured knowledge management, proactive technical risk assessment and mitigation ahead of transfers, and ongoing process robustness post-transfer. The Senior Specialist will lead cross-functional technical projects (without direct reports), train and mentor new hires, and provide expert support to manufacturing, quality, and other partners on complex technical topics.
Key Responsibilities:
- Coordinate and own regional knowledge management implementation for assigned processes, ensuring consistent rollout and adoption across sites (e.g., transfer packages, playbooks, lessons learned, best practices) and effective knowledge sharing within the region.
- Lead regional vaccine technology transfers end-to-end, ensuring technical readiness and successful implementation at receiving sites.
- Identify and mitigate technical risks ahead of transfer execution through structured assessments and data-driven action plans.
- Lead cross-functional technical projects/workstreams that enable transfer success and improve process performance.
- Train and mentor new hires, strengthening team capability and consistent ways of working.
- Ensure post-transfer process robustness through monitoring, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement in partnership with sites and Quality.
- Deliver compliant technical documentation and clear stakeholder communication aligned with quality, regulatory and internal governance.
Job Requirements
Education Minimum Requirement:
- Bachelor’s degree with significant relevant experience in Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, or a related life science/engineering field. A Master’s degree preferred.
Required Experience and Skills
- Minimum 5 years of experience in biopharmaceutical or vaccine manufacturing, process development, or technology transfer.
- Proven track record in leading tech transfer or major technical projects as an individual contributor.
- Strong understanding of upstream, downstream, fill-finish and/or lyophilization processes in vaccine or biopharma manufacturing.
- Experience in vaccine/biopharma-regulated environments
- Experience with process characterization, scale-up/scale-down, and process robustness.
- Technical and problem-solving skills to motivate cross-functional team responsible for implementation.
- Ability to train, coach, and influence others; strong problem-solving and decision-making.
- High degree of ownership, scientific rigor, and continuous improvement mindset.
- Proficiency in technical risk assessment and data analysis for process performance.
- Ability to prioritize, focus on and obtain business results.
Preferred Experience and Skills
- Familiarity with USDA regulatory expectations.
- Excellent technical writing and communication skills for diverse stakeholders.
- Strong project leadership and cross-functional collaboration without formal line authority.
Schedule Requirements
- Able to work first shift, Monday through Friday as base schedule.
- Off-shift coverage may be required based on manufacturing/transfer activities.
What We’re Looking For
We seek individuals who:
- Demonstrate execution excellence through effective problem-solving and critical thinking.
- Embrace an entrepreneurial mindset, taking initiative and ownership of their work.
- Adapt with agility and resilience in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Uphold a safety-first mindset, ensuring the well-being of themselves and their colleagues.
Required Skills:
Biological Sciences, Biologics, Biopharmaceuticals, Cross-Functional Project Management, Downstream Processing, Fill and Finish, Freeze Dry, Freeze Drying, Influencing Skills, Leadership, Life Science, Manufacturing Processes, Technology Transfer, Upstream Processing, Vaccine Manufacturing
Preferred Skills:
USDA Regulations
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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:
25%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
1st - Day
Valid Driving License:
Yes
Hazardous Material(s):
N/A
Job Posting End Date:
10/2/2026
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
