Job Description

The Future Talent Program features co-operative assignments that last up to six months and will include one or more projects as well as daily functional support. These opportunities 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.

This role is a full-time paid six-month co-op position which includes a housing stipend.

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 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, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline
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 from June to December 2026

Experience | Knowledge | Skills

Preferred

Strong project management, problem solving, organizational, technical writing and communication skills
GPA of 3.0 or higher

FTP2026

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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 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:

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

09/27/2025

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