2027 Future Talent Program – Packaging Component Engineering – Co-Op

Job Description

The Future Talent Program features Cooperative (Co-op) education that lasts up to 6 months and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Manufacturing Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.

The co-op assignment will support our Manufacturing Division’s primary U.S. Packaging site in Wilson, North Carolina. The Wilson Site is home to approximately 550 employees and contractors and is located on 225 acres in southeastern North Carolina, the 500,000 square foot Wilson site opened in June 1983 and began operating in August of that year. Site employees ensure that prescription drug products are packaged according to world-class standards while minimizing environmental waste and impact.

With state-of-the-art technology driving the industry’s most innovative packaging initiatives, the Wilson location packages a vast portion of the company’s portfolio of Human Health medicines. The Wilson site packages our top vaccine, oncology, diabetes and cardiovascular brands for the U.S. and other select international markets for our company.  The Wilson site is a place where our employees are valued, compliant and reliable supply are constant, and collaboration and continuous improvement activities are intentionally embedded within our culture.

 

The candidate selected will have opportunities to gain direct experience in a wide variety of areas within pharmaceutical packaging. 

 

Key Learning & Development

• Primary and secondary packaging development and testing for solid oral dose, sterile and medical device/combination products

• Packaging equipment development and qualification

• Packaging processes and controls

• Packaging related documentation and regulations

• Assist in ad hoc response to floor support

• Initiate and manage supplier incident cases for component issues identified in Operations

• Participate in component investigations and travel to supplier's as needed

• Support in all packaging engineering activities as needed for all packaging component engineers including but not limited to engineering studies, machine trials, and profile and specification development.

 

These activities will provide the Co-Op Associate Engineering Specialist with exposure to other departments, cross functional teams, suppliers, etc. as part of the direct immersive experience.

 

Education

• Currently pursuing degree in Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering

• Currently enrolled in an academic program and returning to university following this co-op assignment to complete credit requirements for graduation

• Available for full time employment for a period of six months. Targeted timeframe is 31 May 2027 to 17 Dec 2027.

 

Experience | Knowledge | Skills Preferred

• Strong project management, problem solving, organizational, technical writing and communication skills

• GPA of 3.0 or higher

Our Manufacturing & Supply Division is committed to be the most trusted supplier of bio-pharmaceuticals worldwide. Our facilities, along with our external contractors, suppliers, and partners, create an interdependent global manufacturing network that’s committed to delivering a high quality, reliable supply to customers and patients on time, every time.

What we look for …

In a world of rapid innovation, we seek brave Inventors who want to make an Impact in all aspects of our business, enabling breakthroughs that will affect generations to come. We encourage you to bring your disruptive thinking, collaborative spirit and diverse perspective to our organization.

Please note that this position may be closed before the posted end date or may remain open longer, at the discretion of the company.

Salary range:
The salary range for this role is $39,908 - $111,111 USD.

FTP2027

MD2027

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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.

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 characteristics.  As 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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

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:

Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

no

Job Posting End Date:

10/30/2026

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