2026 Future Talent Program - Device Development & Technology - Co-op (Systems & Human Factors)

Job Description

The Future Talent Program offers co-ops of up to 6-months, each involving one or more projects designed to support your professional growth.  These opportunities in our Research & Development Division provide valuable development while allowing you to explore whether we are the right company for your long-term career goals.

Our success depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity, and teamwork of people like you. That is why we strive to foster an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and collaboration. As part of our global team, you will work alongside talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.  

Within our company, the Pharmaceutical Sciences & Global Clinical Supplies organization is responsible for translating therapeutic agents into functional drug products optimized for patients. The Device Development & Technology team focuses on discovering, developing, and commercializing superior delivery devices – including dry powder inhalers (DPI), metered dose inhalers (MDI), nasal and parenteral systems (ophthalmic, injectables, and implants) – to support small molecules, biologics, and vaccine therapeutics requiring complex delivery routes.

We are seeking co-op candidates at all levels with strong academic performance, communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to work in a multi-functional environment. The co-op will participate in departmental and project team meetings, gaining a broad perspective on the drug development process in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, the co-op will have the opportunity to present research results in both oral and written formats.

During your co-op appointment, you will work closely with experienced pharmaceutical industry scientists on research project(s) with key tasks that include:

• Support the planning, conducting, and reporting of various forms of human factors activities including but not limited to user needs identification, user journey/profiles mapping, usability study planning/execution, instructions for use/user training development, known use problem documentation, task and use error analysis, risk assessment/management, and post-launch outcomes analysis.

• Maintain device risk management documentation by conducting risk assessments, evaluating failure modes, causes, and effects (FMEA/FMEDA), and updating risk control and mitigation strategies based on post‑market surveillance, complaint data, and customer feedback to ensure compliance with applicable standards (e.g., ISO 14971) and regulatory requirements.

• Perform independent literature and database reviews to identify relevant scientific and regulatory evidence, synthesize findings, and summarize implications for the team's risk management and human factors work.

• Conduct primary user research, discovering behaviors and motivations through methods such as surveys, interviews, usability testing and more that could lead to the exploration of new research directions and methodologies.

• Perform quantitative and qualitative data analysis and distill the research insights into impactful, actionable, and compelling deliverables and other job-related duties or special projects as appropriate.

Required Education and Experience:

• Candidates must be a currently enrolled undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior student pursuing a Bachelors degree OR a currently enrolled graduate student pursuing a Masters or PhD in Human Factors, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, Industrial Engineering, Usability Engineering, Biomechanics, Cognitive Science, or equivalent

• Candidates must be available to work full-time for up to (6) months in 2026.

• Candidates must have completed at least (2) years of studies toward bachelor’s degree by June 2026.

• Ability to apply user-centered design, human factors, and risk management principles to product research, development, and design

• Proven experience in conducting literature reviews as well as experience in selecting and implementing appropriate risk management and human factors/user experience research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, survey design, research study design)

• Ability to analyze and synthesize large quantities of information into usable communications, literature reviews and/or presentations

• Demonstrated analytical skills and aptitude for quickly picking up advanced domain knowledge

• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, formal presentation) and proven ability to collaborate with and across various multidisciplinary teams within the organization

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Knowledge of medical devices, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or similar regulated industry, is a significant plus

• M.S. and Ph.D. candidates are strongly preferred

• Candidates should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher

Learning outcomes:

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Learn how inputs from multiple stakeholders impact product design and development

• Stay current with industry relevant risk management and human factors best practices and research

• Identify new opportunities in risk management, human factors and drug delivery devices research

• Collaborate, network, as well as present on research with cross-functional colleagues (engineering, marketing, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, quality, labeling, and more)

• ​Understand the regulatory imperatives for risk management, human factors, including relevant standards and guidances, to ensure compliance with the US and local regulatory policies for medical devices and combination products   

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 $39,600.00-$105,500.00 USD

FTP2026

RL2026
 

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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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:

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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.

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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

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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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

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Job Posting End Date:

*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.

Requisition ID:R368018

Salary : $39,600 - $105,500