Vence Field Application Specialist

Merck Merck · Pharma · CA

Merck is seeking a Vence Field Application Specialist to act as the R&D frontline for Vence customers, focusing on designing, configuring, and optimizing virtual fencing solutions on farms and ranches. This role involves contributing to field testing strategy, executing field trials, owning R&D-driven field investigations, and translating field outcomes into actionable R&D insights. The position requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, experience with complex HW/SW systems, and the ability to work independently in the field while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

What you'd actually do

  1. Contribute to field testing strategy and objectives by participating in the definition of field‑testing OKRs, success criteria, and key metrics, providing practical field, operational, and domain input to ensure objectives are realistic, measurable, and aligned with product lifecycle goals.
  2. Participate in defining and refining field test protocols, test scenarios, and data requirements, collaborating with R&D, engineering, and product stakeholders who own overall test strategy and governance, and ensuring protocols reflect real‑world operating conditions and constraints.
  3. Execute and support field trials across early and mid product lifecycle stages, including site readiness, on‑site execution, monitoring of test progress, structured data collection, and identification of anomalies, risks, and deviations from expected behavior.
  4. Collaborate closely with Field Operations teams on large‑scale, multi‑site, or operationally intensive field activities, aligning on roles, responsibilities, logistics, and sequencing to ensure safe, consistent, and scalable execution.
  5. Own R&D‑driven field investigations, acting as the technical owner for complex or escalated field‑originated issues, leading root‑cause analysis across hardware, software, data, and operational dimensions, and coordinating with engineering, data, and algorithm teams to drive resolution and design improvements.

Skills

Required

  • Animal Welfare
  • Applied Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Field Trials
  • Leadership
  • Logistics
  • Operating Models
  • Pasture Management
  • Readiness Assessments
  • Structured Data
  • Systems Engineering
  • Testing Protocols

Nice to have

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Sciences, or a related field of study

What the JD emphasized

  • Minimum 5 years experience in field application, systems engineering, technical operations, or similar hands‑on roles, preferably involving complex HW/SW systems