Lead Robotics Application Engineer
Merck
June 24, 2026
Remote friendly (Durham, NC)
United States
IT
Responsibilities:
- Lead the architecture, design, development, testing, deployment, and support of robotics applications and automation solutions.
- Define technical standards, best practices, and governance for robotics application development and lifecycle management.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to identify high-value automation opportunities and translate business needs into technical solutions.
- Evaluate and select robotics platforms, tools, and integration patterns aligned with enterprise strategy.
- Serve as the technical lead on complex robotics initiatives, including solution design, system integration, validation, and troubleshooting.
- Guide and mentor engineers, developers, analysts, and other team members.
- Ensure solutions meet requirements for performance, reliability, security, compliance, and maintainability.
- Collaborate with vendors and implementation partners to assess capabilities, manage deliverables, and resolve technical issues.
- Support project planning, estimation, risk management, and milestone tracking.
- Stay current with emerging technologies in robotics, automation, AI, machine learning, and intelligent systems.
- Present recommendations and project updates to senior leadership and business stakeholders.
Qualifications:
Required
- Bachelor’s degree (or Master’s with 8 years experience; or PhD with 5 years) in engineering/CS/Robotics/Automation/IS or related field.
- 10+ years progressive experience in robotics/automation/software/controls or related.
- Experience leading delivery of robotics/automation in a complex enterprise.
- Experience with robotics application development, integration, testing, deployment, and support.
- Leadership experience with technical teams/contractors/cross-functional teams.
- Stakeholder experience across operations, IT, quality, engineering, and business.
- Ability to design scalable, secure, reliable automation solutions.
- Programming/scripting: Python, C#, Java, PLC-related languages, or similar.
- Knowledge of robotics frameworks, machine vision, sensors, motion/control systems, and integration.
- System integration experience (APIs, databases, messaging, industrial protocols, enterprise apps).
- Strong analytical/problem-solving and project leadership.
- Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- Validation/documentation/compliance familiarity in regulated environments (if applicable).
- Balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
Preferred
- Large-scale, multi-site, or regulated environment implementations.
- Vendor management, technical evaluations, and solution lifecycle governance.
- Collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, or industrial robotics systems.
- AI/ML-enabled automation, computer vision, intelligent process automation.
- Agile/Scrum/hybrid delivery experience.
- Life sciences, manufacturing, logistics, laboratory automation, or other regulated industries.
- Relevant certifications (robotics/automation/PM/cloud/platform).
Required Skills:
- Asset Management, Emerging Technologies, Industrial Robotics, Intelligent Automation (IA), IT Operation, Laboratory Automation, Management System Development, Product Management, Project Leadership, Project Management/Planning, Requirements Management, Robotic Automation, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, System Designs/Integration, Technical Issues/Leadership.
- Lead the architecture, design, development, testing, deployment, and support of robotics applications and automation solutions.
- Define technical standards, best practices, and governance for robotics application development and lifecycle management.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to identify high-value automation opportunities and translate business needs into technical solutions.
- Evaluate and select robotics platforms, tools, and integration patterns aligned with enterprise strategy.
- Serve as the technical lead on complex robotics initiatives, including solution design, system integration, validation, and troubleshooting.
- Guide and mentor engineers, developers, analysts, and other team members.
- Ensure solutions meet requirements for performance, reliability, security, compliance, and maintainability.
- Collaborate with vendors and implementation partners to assess capabilities, manage deliverables, and resolve technical issues.
- Support project planning, estimation, risk management, and milestone tracking.
- Stay current with emerging technologies in robotics, automation, AI, machine learning, and intelligent systems.
- Present recommendations and project updates to senior leadership and business stakeholders.
Qualifications:
Required
- Bachelor’s degree (or Master’s with 8 years experience; or PhD with 5 years) in engineering/CS/Robotics/Automation/IS or related field.
- 10+ years progressive experience in robotics/automation/software/controls or related.
- Experience leading delivery of robotics/automation in a complex enterprise.
- Experience with robotics application development, integration, testing, deployment, and support.
- Leadership experience with technical teams/contractors/cross-functional teams.
- Stakeholder experience across operations, IT, quality, engineering, and business.
- Ability to design scalable, secure, reliable automation solutions.
- Programming/scripting: Python, C#, Java, PLC-related languages, or similar.
- Knowledge of robotics frameworks, machine vision, sensors, motion/control systems, and integration.
- System integration experience (APIs, databases, messaging, industrial protocols, enterprise apps).
- Strong analytical/problem-solving and project leadership.
- Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- Validation/documentation/compliance familiarity in regulated environments (if applicable).
- Balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
Preferred
- Large-scale, multi-site, or regulated environment implementations.
- Vendor management, technical evaluations, and solution lifecycle governance.
- Collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, or industrial robotics systems.
- AI/ML-enabled automation, computer vision, intelligent process automation.
- Agile/Scrum/hybrid delivery experience.
- Life sciences, manufacturing, logistics, laboratory automation, or other regulated industries.
- Relevant certifications (robotics/automation/PM/cloud/platform).
Required Skills:
- Asset Management, Emerging Technologies, Industrial Robotics, Intelligent Automation (IA), IT Operation, Laboratory Automation, Management System Development, Product Management, Project Leadership, Project Management/Planning, Requirements Management, Robotic Automation, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, System Designs/Integration, Technical Issues/Leadership.