Merck
Job Description
We are seeking a skilled Senior / Data Engineer to lead end-to-end data solutions, from mapping business needs through development and implementation. This role requires a strong technical background to design, build, and maintain data pipelines and automation processes that support data-driven decision-making within the Clinical Research department. The position combines hands-on data engineering, analytics, and dashboard development, with a focus on building reliable data infrastructure and enabling AI-driven initiatives.
The Senior / D****ata Engineer – Automation, Analytics & AI (AA & AI) operates at the country level within GCTO RRO to identify, design, and deliver technology-enabled solutions that improve clinical trial operations efficiency, quality, and compliance. The role leads the intake, assessment, and delivery of local automation, analytics, and AI initiatives, creates compelling business cases, builds or oversees development of country tools, and scales fit-for-purpose solutions to other countries or the Region when applicable.
The Senior / D****ata Engineer – Automation, Analytics & AI (AA & AI) reports to the Clinical Operations Manager Lead (COM Lead) and partners closely with country, regional and headquarters roles and teams, such as, Regions Operational Excellence (ROE), regional/country stakeholders, Automation/Analytics/AI partners and, as needed, IT. As needed, the Sr BA may also support initiatives driven by Regional Operations teams, such as GSA, GTO, GSBP and EDM. The role ensures adherence to ICH GCP, company policies, and local regulations, and drives measurable impact through robust KPIs and change enablement.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategy & intake
Partner with the CRD, country leadership team, and the AA & AI Lead to surface priority pain points and high-value opportunities for automation, analytics, and AI.
Lead development of business cases including problem definition, options analysis, solution scope, resource/cost estimates, benefits/KPIs, risks, and compliance considerations.
Align local opportunities with RRO/GCTO priorities; verify with relevant GCDI/central repositories and teams if there are for similar tools to avoid duplication; summarize reuse opportunities and recommendations for the AA & AI Lead.
Solution design & delivery
Lead and drive the end-to-end delivery of country-level tools and solutions (e.g., dashboards, workflow automation, AI-assisted processes) using appropriate platforms and methods.
For multi-country or regional solutions, co-lead with the AA & AI Lead to ensure harmonization, scalability, and governance alignment.
Responsible for escalation to centralized assessment when project (?) requirements exceed local capability or scale.
Translate business requirements into functional/technical specifications and oversee build, testing, validation, and controlled deployment; ensure security, privacy, and quality.
Conduct life cycle management of the developed solutions, including rollout, maintenance and disposal, as required.
Data, analytics & reporting
Develop or oversee development of analytics and visualization (e.g., operational dashboards, performance metrics) to drive data-informed decision-making.
Define and track success metrics (e.g., time-to-deploy, cycle-time reduction, accuracy/data quality, adoption/satisfaction, cost avoidance/FTE savings) and embed learning loops for continuous improvement.
Governance, compliance & change
Ensure solutions comply with ICH GCP, Company policies, and local regulations; partner with Compliance/Legal as needed.
Maintain project tracking and provide periodic updates to CRD, AA & AI Lead, and relevant governance forums; support RRO governance processes.
Lead change management for local deployments, including training plans, communications, and stakeholder engagement; contribute to capability uplift in data literacy and digital ways of working.
Collaboration & scaling
Serve as the primary country liaison with the AA & AI Lead, Automation/Analytics/AI partners, and when required, IT and external vendors for integration and support.
Share learnings and reusable assets with other countries and regional teams; assess and adapt regional/global tools for local use.
Educational Requirements:
Required Experience:
Minimum of 2 years or 5 years for Senior position of relevant hands on experience in building end to end data piplines and analyticswhich includes:
Successfully designing and delivering automation/analytics/AI-enabled solutions (e.g., dashboards, workflow automation, AI/ML solutions, ETL procceses) that produced measurable improvements.
Experience coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, with hands-on project management in a matrix environment.
Preferred Experience:
Experience working across multiple countries or in regional programs.
Exposure to integrations with IT/data science teams and vendor coordination.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Business process modeling and requirements techniques: e.g., process mapping, user stories, acceptance criteria, functional specifications
End-to-end product and solution ownership mindset: with accountability for value delivery across the full solution lifecycle (ideation, MVP, rollout, scaling, maintenance, and retirement).
Data literacy and analytics: ability to translate business questions into metrics; hands-on with BI tools (e.g., Power BI/Tableau) and data querying basics (SQL or equivalent).
Automation/AI awareness: practical experience with workflow automation/RPA platforms; exposure to AI/ML use cases and constraints in clinical operations.
Program/project management: planning, prioritization, risk/issue management, and delivery at pace; comfortable with Agile/Lean practices
Communication & influence: excellent English communication; ability to influence across functions and present technical topics to non-technical audiences.
Change enablement: stakeholder engagement, training, and adoption support.
Problem-solving & critical thinking: structured analysis, hypothesis-driven approach, and pragmatic delivery mindset.
Location
Country-based (office or home-based, per local policy)
Extent of Travel
Up to 10-20% of working time
Required Skills:
Adaptability, Business Process Modeling, Clinical Trials, Clinical Trials Operations, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Matrix Management, Process Improvements, Process Mapping, Regulatory Compliance, Robotic Process Automation, Solutions Design, Stakeholder Engagement, Study Management
Preferred Skills:
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Employee Status:
Regular
Relocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
07/16/2026
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