M

Merck

Makes medicines, vaccines and animal treatments

Technician - Technical, Operations

Full-TimePosted on 10/22/2026Deadline 11/5/26
$57.9k - $91.2k+ Annual bonus + Long-term incentive
Junior
Wilson, NC, USA
In PersonNo travel required; flexible work arrangements are not applicable.
Manufacturing & Production OperationsMachine & Process Operation
No H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
  • More than 2 years of experience in a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) manufacturing facility is required.
  • Experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and/or repairing industrial equipment is required.
  • Basic understanding of mechanical and electrical systems is required.
  • Ability to troubleshoot equipment systematically to understand problems and determine appropriate solutions is required.
  • Ability to work independently as a team member is required.
  • Ability to work with computerized and automated systems is required.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds is required.
  • Willingness to work various shifts and irregular hours, including weekends as needed to support multi-shift operations, is required.
  • Must pass a vision exam, be free of color blindness, and have correctable close vision acuity equivalent to 20/20.
  • Must be medically cleared and physically able to pass annual occupational health evaluations for respirator use, including a powered air-purifying respirator.
Responsibilities
  • Operate and maintain manufacturing and packaging equipment to meet production standards while following Good Manufacturing Practices and standard operating procedures.
  • Complete line clearance, cleaning, and inspection, including required documentation.
  • Set up and adjust equipment with appropriate tools to ensure proper alignment and clearances.
  • Maintain and transport processing equipment, materials, supplies, and products needed to support manufacturing and packaging.
  • Perform and document equipment challenges according to current procedures.
  • Visually inspect products, packaging, and production areas during line clearance, in-process checks, repackaging, and material reintroduction, distinguishing fine visual details, printed information, and product or component colors.
  • Respond first to equipment malfunctions and process issues; diagnose issues and make adjustments to restore equipment functionality, escalating unresolved line issues according to established guidelines.
  • Identify potential production issues proactively and take action to prevent them.
  • Assist maintenance personnel with routine and non-routine equipment maintenance and repairs, including maintenance tasks, initiating work orders, and retrieving parts from the stockroom.
  • Clean and lubricate machines periodically and perform basic maintenance, such as wiping sensors and recharging process fluids.
  • Organize, clean, and maintain the designated work area.
  • Conduct manufacturing and packaging operations according to current Good Manufacturing Practices, site standard operating procedures, and divisional policies and guidelines.
  • Follow health and safety policies, including proper gowning and use of safety equipment.
  • Report and resolve unsafe conditions, taking accountability for personal and others' safety.
  • Follow site policies on personal conduct and attendance.
  • Identify and report compliance, environmental, safety, and process deviations promptly and escalate them to appropriate personnel.
  • Participate in and complete environmental, health and safety and quality compliance training on time.
  • Maintain housekeeping, material segregation, and personal gowning, including required personal protective equipment, to keep the work area compliant.
  • Document manufacturing and packaging activities according to Good Documentation Practices and data-integrity requirements, and document equipment changes in the appropriate system according to current Good Manufacturing Practices procedures.
  • Assist with investigations, root-cause determination, and corrective and preventive action implementation for equipment-related compliance discrepancies identified in daily work or audits.
  • Collaborate with peers and employees at various organizational levels to achieve company, site, and departmental goals.
  • Participate in continuous-improvement activities focused on standard work, visibility of problems, waste reduction, reduced process variability, and problem solving.
  • Participate in quality and safety investigations, improvement activities, and projects to improve manufacturing and packaging processes.
  • Attend and participate in safety and housekeeping walkthroughs, 5S, GEMBA, and required operations, lean six sigma, quality, safety, or environmental training and initiatives.
  • Participate in projects to improve manufacturing and packaging equipment functionality and operational processes.
  • Train team members on basic responses to common faults and errors.
  • Help develop and improve setup and troubleshooting standard work; build knowledge and skills in assigned operations and equipment-maintenance areas and share that information with the team.
  • Identify and drive problem resolution and implement feasible solutions to team-identified opportunities and issues.
  • Participate in new equipment installations by interfacing with equipment vendors, partnering with project engineering on testing and qualification, recommending spare parts, and assisting with preventive-maintenance-plan reviews.
Desired Qualifications
  • Maintenance experience in a Good Manufacturing Practices-regulated environment is preferred.
  • Experience with continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, problem solving, and/or Right First-Time methodologies is preferred.
  • Basic knowledge of SAP, manufacturing execution systems, or electronic logbooks from a production-execution perspective is preferred.
  • Strong communication across the direct team and multiple shifts is preferred.

About the company

Merck develops prescription medicines, vaccines and veterinary treatments for patients, health systems and animal owners worldwide. Its vaccine portfolio includes Gardasil 9, which helps prevent cancers and other diseases caused by several types of human papillomavirus. The company takes potential treatments through laboratory research and clinical trials, then manufactures and sells approved products to drug distributors, hospitals, physicians and governments. Its animal health division sells medicines and vaccines to veterinarians, farmers and pet owners, while selected drug partnerships also earn shared profits or royalties. Founded in 1891, Merck is headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Rahway, New Jersey

Founded

1891

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • U.S. employees build retirement benefits: Merck pairs a defined benefit pension with a matching 401(k).
  • Scientists work within a large research network: Merck reports approximately 24,700 employees in R&D.
  • Animal health adds growth: August 2026 results report Q2 sales of $1.8 billion, up 8% year over year.

What critics are saying

  • Job security faces cuts: Merck's active restructuring program eliminates roles and shrinks its global real estate footprint.
  • Keytruda protection narrows: its main U.S. patent expires in 2028, with additional patents expiring in 2029.
  • Revenue is concentrated: August 2026 results show Keytruda products generated $8.4 billion of Merck's $16.6 billion Q2 sales.

What makes Merck unique

  • Merck extends into farm technology: SenseHub continuously monitors livestock for behavioral and physiological changes.
  • Merck publishes open medical knowledge: its Manuals give clinicians and patients free online references.
  • Merck's donation commitment is open-ended: Mectizan supplies for river blindness continue for as long as needed.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

-19%

1 year growth

-20%

2 year growth

-20%
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