Associate Specialist, Manufacturing Automation

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity with a rapidly growing pharmaceutical manufacturer? If so, this role offers a unique opportunity to launch your engineering career supporting highly automated, life‑saving manufacturing operations.

At our Elkton, Virginia campus, located in the Shenandoah Valley along the Shenandoah River and near the Blue Ridge Mountains, we are seeking entry‑level engineers to support and sustain manufacturing operations through hands‑on automation technical support in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

This role is an operations‑focused, shop‑floor automation support position. The successful candidate will work 12‑hour rotating shifts, serving as first‑line technical support for automated manufacturing systems that produce pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and vaccine products.

You will apply your technical skills, problem‑solving ability, and enthusiasm as part of a cross‑functional, multidisciplinary team responsible for ensuring safe, compliant, and reliable manufacturing operations.

• →Provide hands‑on automation technical support across the manufacturing site while working 12‑hour rotating shifts (days/nights, weekends, and holidays as required)
• →Serve as the initial point of contact for shop‑floor automation support calls
• →Troubleshoot and support automation systems, including:
  • →Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
  • →Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
  • →Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) automation platforms
• →Diagnose and resolve complex automation and equipment issues impacting:
  • →Manufacturing yield
  • →Cycle time
  • →Reliability and uptime
• →Maintain automation systems in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
• →Oversee investigations of automation anomalies and implement solutions to prevent recurrence

• →Develop solutions for recurring automation problems and support continuous improvement initiatives
• →Provide automation-related training and technical guidance to operations and technical staff
• →Write, review, and improve procedures for system administration and process operation
• →Participate in process and equipment safety reviews
• →Embrace and promote an empowered, diverse, and inclusive team culture

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Science, or Business

• Strong technical and analytical problem‑solving skills with a hands‑on, field‑first mindset
• Ability to evaluate issues from multiple perspectives, including safety, compliance, maintenance, automation, equipment, process, and people
• Strong desire to succeed individually while helping others succeed as a team
• Enthusiastic, confident self‑starter with a passion for continuous learning
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability and expectation to work onsite in an operational manufacturing setting

• Degree focus in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, computer science, integrated science, or physics
• Prior experience in manufacturing, engineering, science, or military environments
• Familiarity with or interest in automated manufacturing systems and control platforms
• Exposure to:
  • Emerson DeltaV
  • Allen‑Bradley PLCs
  • OSI‑PI
  • SQL
  • Infobatch
• Knowledge of Batch Processing and S88 standards
• Awareness of Good Automated Manufacturing Practice (GAMP) standards
• Strong personal motivation to work for a company dedicated to saving and improving lives
• Interest in building a diverse, long‑term career within an active manufacturing campus

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

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.