Associate Director of Mechanical Utilities Engineer

About the role

Bring your engineering expertise to high-impact global capital projects and help turn business needs into innovative, compliant facility solutions worldwide. Our Global Engineering Solutions (GES) organization executes a wide variety of capital and expense projects to ensure the company has the capabilities and facilities to meet its goal of providing World Class Supply of Medicines and support life-saving objectives. This role reports to the Technology Center Director of the Global Design Engineering Solutions (DES) team within GES and participates in leading the development of holistic global design solutions that support critical manufacturing and business objectives across multiple programs and business units.

The role provides mechanical utility engineering subject matter expertise across the front-end planning lifecycle, from early concept development and site selection through FEL 3 Basis of Design. Focus areas include delivering solutions aligned with business needs, internal standards, and industry best practices; enabling successful capital project execution through clear engineering definition; and ensuring systems are efficient, compliant, and fit for purpose. The role also supports strengthening engineering design standards and governance while building trusted relationships and providing technical leadership across global initiatives. Flexibility with travel and work location is required.

Primary work location: West Point, PA; secondary locations: Rahway, NJ; Durham, NC; Elkton, VA. Approximately 30% global travel anticipated. Requisition ID: R423805. Job posting end date: 11/6/2026.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support project Mechanical Utility design efforts, providing compliant, innovative solutions that meet business needs.
• Provide technical guidance to project teams for mechanical utility systems during project scoping and front-end planning stages, including evaluation of alternative solutions for implementation on sterile, bulk biological, solid dosage, and laboratory facilities worldwide.
• Assist in support of sustainability and energy savings efforts on projects.
• Support major project design efforts and may lead small or minor project design efforts that meet business objectives.
• Ensure deliverables produced on projects conform to company standards, are technically sound, and sufficiently complete.
• Collaborate with and provide SME guidance to project teams during detail design, construction, and installation of mechanical utility systems.
• Author and maintain engineering design standards, guidelines, practices, and position papers.
• Provide technical support and guidance during start-up planning, commissioning, and qualification activities of mechanical utility systems on critical capital projects.
• Collaborate with global manufacturing site engineering-based teams to troubleshoot mechanical utility issues.
• Conduct project peer reviews and provide subject matter expertise on various projects.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of latest industry technology trends.
• Interface and collaborate with Global Quality and Global Safety & the Environment in development and implementation of divisional guidance documents and initiatives.
• Interface with mechanical utility equipment vendors.

Requirements

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or applicable science degree required.

Required experience and skills

• Minimum of ten (10) years' experience in engineering of mechanical utility systems.
• Strong working knowledge of mechanical utility system design, engineering fundamentals, regulatory requirements, equipment sizing, specification, and system troubleshooting.
• Prior experience with engineering design of mechanical utility systems in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech or closely related industry.
• Subject matter expertise in design, construction, and operations of mechanical utility systems including: Steam, Steam Condensate, Heating Hot Water, Chilled Water, Cooling Tower, Process Cooling, Fire Water, Nitrogen, Chemical/Sanitary (Plumbing) Waste, Effluent Decontamination, Compressed Air, Potable Water, Natural Gas, and Process/Lab Gases.
• Experience in design and specification of pipe and piping systems.
• Strong leadership, exemplary communication, and decision-making skills.
• Strong understanding of the line of business, ability to maintain strong link to industry, influence multiple projects, and develop/maintain technical knowledge in respective areas of expertise.

Preferred experience and skills

• Experience with commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting mechanical utility systems.
• Competent leadership and teamwork skills.
• Accomplished written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical abilities and solid base in engineering fundamentals.
• Experience with capital projects that followed a stage gate capital management process.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and other 2D/3D design tools, with ability to produce layout, PFD, P&ID deliverables.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (approximately 30% global travel).

Skills

Required skills

• 3D Designing
• Adaptability
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Automation Systems
• Capital Project Management
• Change Management
• Clinical Manufacturing
• Communication Sciences
• Data Analysis
• Decision Making
• Decontamination
• Drug Product Manufacturing
• Energy Conservation
• Engineering Design
• Engineering Principle
• High Technology Industry
• Industry Knowledge
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Leadership
• Lean Manufacturing
• Manufacturing Scale-Up
• Natural Gas
• Peer Reviewing
• Piping Systems

Preferred skills

Additional preferred skills noted (9 more beyond required list).

Benefits

Comprehensive package including 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 available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

Pay

Salary range for primary location (West Point, PA): $142,400.00 - $224,100.00 base salary. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable. Position within range based on education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business needs. Different compensation guidelines may apply for additional locations.

Schedule

• Travel requirements: 25%
• Flexible work arrangements: Hybrid
• Shift: 1st - Day