Senior Environmental & Process Safety Engineering Scientist

Job Description

We are seeking a Growth and Improvement minded Senior Environmental & Process Safety Engineering Scientist that can help drive our Strategic Operating Priorities.

• Invent | Pursue the Most Promising Internal and External Science to Address Significant Unmet Medical Needs

• Execute | Prioritize Resources Behind Our Key Growth Drivers (Oncology, Vaccines, Select Specialty Areas, Animal Health) While Optimizing Our Base Business)

• Adapt | Develop Our People, Culture and Business Model to Evolve with a Dynamic Landscape

• Diverse Talent | We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment with supporting leadership behaviors because having a high-performing, engaged workforce is critical to our ability to deliver innovative solutions to patients and customers around the world

• Values and Standards | Our Steadfast Commitment to Our Values and Standards will Continue to Guide Us as We Take on New Challenges and Will Always be Fundamental to Our Success – They are a Competitive Advantage for Us

Strategic Summary and Key Functions

The Environmental & Process Safety Engineering (EPSE) group within the Chemical Engineering Research & Development (CERD) department is searching for highly motivated individuals who are motivated to work in a fast-paced job that provides a high degree of technical responsibility. Under scientific and administrative direction, incumbent carries out independent work conceiving, designing, planning, and implementing advanced small scale laboratory studies aimed at characterizing the hazards associated with the process and materials used to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) at all scales, from the laboratory to commercial manufacturing. Specific areas include thermal hazard assessment, chemical compatibility of materials, potential for gas generation, etc.

This position requires expertise in laboratory instruments and techniques, managing the workflow of requests for testing and guidance, organizing collaboration to complete testing and issuing reports to document results. The incumbent is expected to be able to interpret and apply safety and environmental regulations and make scientific contributions to research programs of major importance to the Research and Manufacturing Divisions. This position is seeking an individual looking to become a deep subject matter expert in specific fields of chemical hazard assessment, process safety testing (especially calorimetry), and material-of-construction compatibility (including corrosion).

A high level of innovation and creativity are necessary to adapt to evolving technologies and tools. Also, a high level of self-initiative, attention to detail, and ownership along with the ability to plan and organize activities are expected. Strong communication and collaboration skills are also critical to success in EPSE/CERD because engineers are required to communicate regularly, clearly, and with confidence as they discuss technical problems, provide oversight to laboratory, pilot plant and commercial manufacturing operations, and interface with cross-functional colleagues/customers to influence process development and drive a safe process design.

Education

• Bachelor or Master degree in Chemistry, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Materials Science or a comparable area of study from an accredited college/university with 5 years of relevant work experience OR
• PhD degree in Chemistry, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Materials Science or a comparable area of study from an accredited college/university with 0 years of industry experience required

Required

• Work independently and as a Team member with Integrity | Precision | Accomplishment | Motivational Ambition | Respect | Inclusion

• Organic chemical synthesis and wet chemistry including safely handling solvents and chemicals, running experiments, proper disposal of waste, and generating and analyzing data

• Process scale-up and/or technology transfer, moving from laboratory to pilot plant or manufacturing scale

• General lab instrumentation

• Good organizational, interpersonal, writing, and time management skills

• Keen attention to detail and the ability to author clear reports and review the reports of others

• Diligently follow established procedures, policies and guidelines required to comply with safety, environmental and GMP expectations in the lab

• Initiative and independence to develop, apply, and/or improve new systems and best practices

• Work accurately in a fast-paced environment

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office software products

Preferred

• Specialization or concentration in process safety and/or materials of construction/corrosion

• Thermal analysis techniques including differential scanning and reaction calorimetry

• Evaluating process safety (including risks of thermal decomposition, gas generation, vent sizing, static/conductivity, or dust explosivity; industrial hygiene risk assessments)

• Material-of-construction compatibility assessments, including corrosion testing, electrochemical methods of corrosion measurement, and plastics

• Process modeling using software such as Dynochem, Aspen, or AKTS.

• Mathematical modeling using Matlab/Mathematica or similar

• In-situ or off-line analytical techniques such as FTIR, Raman, and/or GC/HPLC

• PHA’s (e.g. HAZOP), Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) or similar risk evaluation methodologies

• Pharmaceutical drug development and chemical engineering-related technology development

• Organizational and multi-tasking skills to efficiently manage the workflow of requests for testing and guidance

• Collaboration skills to efficiently leverage staff in a matrix arrangement to complete testing and reports

• Flexibility to adapt to changing work assignments and deadlines

For positions located in the United States and Puerto Rico – Subject to applicable law, all new hires (including internal transfers) must demonstrate that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or that they qualify for a medical or religious exemption to this vaccination requirement. New hires (including internal transfers) to a position that, as determined by the Company, requires routine collaboration with external stakeholders (such as roles in health services or customer-facing commercial or research-based roles) (“Customer-Facing Role”) who are not vaccinated must qualify for a medical or religious exemption and be in a position that the Company determines can accommodate unvaccinated employees without causing an undue burden to business operations. If, following dialog with the candidate as appropriate, it is determined that the candidate either a) does not qualify for a religious or medical exemption or, b) for candidates applying for Customer-Facing roles, it is determined that allowing the candidate to work without vaccination would cause an undue burden to the Company, the candidate will be ineligible for hire or transfer, or any offer of employment or transfer (if applicable) will be revoked. Please note that notwithstanding the approval of any reasonable accommodation, the Company reserves the right to monitor, modify, or revoke any such accommodation if it is determined, following dialog with the employee, that the accommodation is no longer effective or results in an undue burden to the Company.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

For more information about personal rights under Equal Employment Opportunity, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Residents of Colorado:

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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:

Relocation:

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Requisition ID:R198348