Senior Specialist, Manufacturing Automation
Merck
August 19, 2026
On-site
Wilson, NC
Operations
Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership and shop floor support for PLC, HMI, Vision Systems, Serialization, MES, IT, Inspection, and OEM equipment within Manufacturing Operations.
- Serve as site SME for machine vision and serialization technologies (preferred Systech; knowledge of Cognex and Optel).
- Interface with Operations and digital support to resolve issues impacting production performance and equipment reliability.
- Lead troubleshooting, root cause investigations, and corrective/preventive actions for complex automation issues.
- Support packaging and inspection systems: barcode verification, reject verification, track-and-trace, and serialization solutions.
- Optimize automation system performance, reliability, scalability, and lifecycle management.
- Implement continuous improvement to improve throughput, reduce downtime, and enhance product quality.
- Lead/support automation modernization, equipment upgrades, startup, and new technology deployments.
- Ensure compliance with GMP, validation, data integrity, cybersecurity, and change management.
- Maintain automation documentation, backups, inventories, SOPs, and system lifecycle records.
- Mentor/coach and share technical knowledge across engineering, maintenance, and operations.
- Participate in on-call and limited off-shift support as needed.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in IT, Science, Engineering, or related technical field.
- 8+ years in automation, controls engineering, manufacturing systems, or related experience.
- Strong knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, servo drives, and industrial control systems.
- Experience in regulated manufacturing.
- Project leadership, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration.
Preferred
- Packaging technology and automated inspection equipment experience.
- Vision systems knowledge (Systech, Cognex, Optel).
- Serialization and track-and-trace experience.
- Guardian platform experience.
- MES, IT/OT integration, data integrity, and cybersecurity knowledge.
- Lean, Continuous Improvement, Right First-Time.
Required Skills
- Audit Management, Automation Engineering, Digital Manufacturing, GMP Compliance, Industrial Control System, Lean Manufacturing, Operations Automation, Packaging Optimization/Processes, Problem Management, Project Leadership, Quality Management, Real-Time Programming, Security Compliance, SDLC.
Application
- Apply at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or Workday Jobs Hub for current employees).
- Provide technical leadership and shop floor support for PLC, HMI, Vision Systems, Serialization, MES, IT, Inspection, and OEM equipment within Manufacturing Operations.
- Serve as site SME for machine vision and serialization technologies (preferred Systech; knowledge of Cognex and Optel).
- Interface with Operations and digital support to resolve issues impacting production performance and equipment reliability.
- Lead troubleshooting, root cause investigations, and corrective/preventive actions for complex automation issues.
- Support packaging and inspection systems: barcode verification, reject verification, track-and-trace, and serialization solutions.
- Optimize automation system performance, reliability, scalability, and lifecycle management.
- Implement continuous improvement to improve throughput, reduce downtime, and enhance product quality.
- Lead/support automation modernization, equipment upgrades, startup, and new technology deployments.
- Ensure compliance with GMP, validation, data integrity, cybersecurity, and change management.
- Maintain automation documentation, backups, inventories, SOPs, and system lifecycle records.
- Mentor/coach and share technical knowledge across engineering, maintenance, and operations.
- Participate in on-call and limited off-shift support as needed.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in IT, Science, Engineering, or related technical field.
- 8+ years in automation, controls engineering, manufacturing systems, or related experience.
- Strong knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, servo drives, and industrial control systems.
- Experience in regulated manufacturing.
- Project leadership, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration.
Preferred
- Packaging technology and automated inspection equipment experience.
- Vision systems knowledge (Systech, Cognex, Optel).
- Serialization and track-and-trace experience.
- Guardian platform experience.
- MES, IT/OT integration, data integrity, and cybersecurity knowledge.
- Lean, Continuous Improvement, Right First-Time.
Required Skills
- Audit Management, Automation Engineering, Digital Manufacturing, GMP Compliance, Industrial Control System, Lean Manufacturing, Operations Automation, Packaging Optimization/Processes, Problem Management, Project Leadership, Quality Management, Real-Time Programming, Security Compliance, SDLC.
Application
- Apply at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or Workday Jobs Hub for current employees).