Sr. Specialist, OT Research Infrastructure

Job Description

RaDS IT Research Infrastructure Product Line (RIPL) is seeking a Senior Specialist Plant Automation OT Infrastructure Controls & Industrial Automation to support pilot plant automation process automation control systems and IT/OT infrastructure in a regulated research and manufacturing environment. This role designs builds integrates and supports OT automation solutions across current and future plant automation architectures. Key technologies include PLC HMI SCADA DCS DeltaV MES PI Historian virtualization industrial networking OT cybersecurity and system integration. The role partners with scientists engineers IT architects infrastructure quality vendors and site operations to improve reliability efficiency troubleshooting and productivity.

The primary location is Rahway NJ or West Point PA and will provide support services to other sites.

Job Description / Key Responsibilities

• Optimize IT/OT infrastructure for plant automation process control industrial automation and manufacturing automation by identifying gaps trends efficiencies and technology refresh opportunities.
• Build maintain and support OT infrastructure for GMP manufacturing and pilot plant operations including secure industrial networks control systems and OT cybersecurity practices.
• Lead or support project scoping technical requirements IT infrastructure deliverables commissioning readiness estimates and automation infrastructure solutions.
• Partner with stakeholders scientists automation engineers process engineers controls engineers infrastructure teams and vendors to translate needs into technical requirements.
• Contribute to solution architecture for plant automation OT infrastructure industrial networks SCADA MES PI Historian virtualization on-premises systems and cloud-connected components.
• Provide technical support for automation systems control systems and OT infrastructure including troubleshooting incident resolution root cause analysis and continuous service improvement.
• Map design and maintain IT/OT service architecture diagrams including control networks servers virtualization backups archival data flows interfaces and integrations.
• Collaborate with Research & Development scientists and engineers to identify plant automation research automation manufacturing automation and data integration needs.
• Work with instrument vendors automation suppliers system integrators and equipment manufacturers to evaluate and implement plant automation process automation and industrial control technologies.
• Provide timely IT support for investigations diagnostics troubleshooting and resolution while partnering with infrastructure engineering security risk quality and compliance teams.

Education Requirement:

• Bachelors degree in automation engineering computer science or computer engineering related degree.
• A Masters degree is preferred.

Required Experience and Skills:

• 5 years of experience with upstream manufacturing systems pilot plant automation process automation or manufacturing automation platforms such as DeltaV Eppendorf AMBR DCS PLC HMI SCADA control systems networking virtualization server management capital projects and PI Historian data integration.
• 4 years of hands-on experience with Rockwell / Allen-Bradley PLCs HMI configuration SCADA systems OT cybersecurity OT data architecture MES industrial networking or IT/OT integration.
• 4 years of knowledge of VMware virtualized OT environments DeltaV PI / PI Historian MES SCADA backup and archival data retention Windows servers and regulated computer system support.
• 4 years of experience with industrial networking switches VLANs subnets firewalls Windows Active Directory virtual infrastructure servers and OT network segmentation.
• Experience supporting manufacturing software and hardware including Ignition MES SAP HMI PLC SCADA DCS industrial PCs servers switches firewalls and network equipment.
• Strong troubleshooting root cause analysis problem-solving incident management and operational support skills in plant automation or industrial control systems.
• Experience building support models for plant automation OT infrastructure and industrial control systems including ownership escalation runbooks monitoring and improvement.
• Ability to lead multiple IT OT infrastructure controls automation and system integration projects.
• Able to work independently and cross-functionally with automation engineers process engineers manufacturing users infrastructure cybersecurity quality and vendors.
• Excellent collaboration communication technical documentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Understanding of SDLC validation change control computer system lifecycle and regulated system support.

Required Skills:

Automation Automation Automation Solutions Data Engineering Data Visualization Design Applications Design of Experiments (DOE) Distributed Control System (DCS) Efficiency Improvements Engineering Support Equipment Engineering Experimental Methods HMI Development Industrial Control System Industrial Processes Laboratory Protocols Laboratory Research Manufacturing Process Controls Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) Process Control Reliability Improvement Root Cause Identification Situation Management Software Configurations Software Development 4 more

Preferred Skills:

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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 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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The salary range for this role is

$117000.00 - $184200.00

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 employees 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 can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only:We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only:We will consider for employment all qualified applicants including those with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co. Inc. Rahway NJ USA also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC Rahway NJ USA does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place introductions are position specific. Please no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

10/7/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.