Work Your Magic with us!
Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you've got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people's lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.
We are seeking an experienced and visionary IT Infrastructure leader to serve as
Director, Storage, Backup, Unix/Linux Platforms
within our Group IT organization. This is a senior leadership role with end-to-end accountability for Linux/Unix, High Performance Computing (HPC), Data Storage, and Backup platforms across a globally distributed, high-complexity environment. The successful candidate will lead a large, high-performing team and drive strategic technology initiatives that align with organizational goals across private and public cloud environments.
This role requires a dynamic individual who thrives in fast-paced, complex environments and brings a robust combination of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and people leadership to the table.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Team Management
Lead, mentor, and inspire a global team, including Managers operating across core IT Infrastructure domains
Foster a
collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance
work culture that enhances teamwork, innovation, and productivity
Champion
employee career development
initiatives, designing and facilitating upskilling and reskilling programs to build organizational capability and future readiness
Set clear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching and feedback, and support team members in achieving professional growth goals
Strategic Planning and Roadmap Development
Formulate and own
multi-year strategic plans and technology roadmaps
for Linux/Unix, HPC, Data Storage, and Backup platforms, ensuring full alignment with organizational objectives and business priorities
Drive the evaluation and adoption of
emerging technologies and industry best practices
to maintain a modern, scalable, and resilient infrastructure landscape
Identify, assess, and implement
automation opportunities
to streamline processes, improve productivity, and eliminate manual workloads across the technology stack
Act as a thought leader and trusted advisor to senior stakeholders on infrastructure strategy, technology trends, and capability development
Operations and Delivery
Maintain
end-to-end accountability
for Linux/Unix, HPC, Data Storage, and Backup platforms across global data centers, edge sites, and both private and public cloud environments
Oversee
day-to-day operations, demand management, and project delivery
,



ensuring seamless platform functioning, service reliability, and timely execution of initiatives
Define, monitor, and continuously improve
service quality metrics, SLAs, and KPIs
to ensure operational excellence across all managed platforms
Drive
business continuity planning
and resilience strategies to safeguard critical infrastructure and minimize risk to business operations
Security and Compliance
Implement and enforce
robust security measures and governance frameworks
to protect sensitive data, infrastructure assets, and systems from evolving cyber threats
Ensure all managed platforms adhere to applicable
regulatory, compliance, and audit requirements
, including industry standards relevant to highly regulated environments
Partner with Security, Risk, and Compliance teams to proactively identify vulnerabilities and remediate risks across the infrastructure portfolio
Financial Management
Manage and optimize the Operating budget, balancing cost reduction objectives with the need to maintain quality, efficiency, and service performance
Develop accurate
budget forecasts, financial reports, and investment cases
to support informed decision-making and resource planning
Identify and execute on
cost optimization opportunities
, including vendor consolidation, technology rationalization, and process efficiency improvements
Stakeholder and Vendor Management
Build and maintain strong
partnerships with IT leaders across Business Units and cross-functional teams
, ensuring seamless integration of infrastructure solutions and alignment with business needs
Lead
vendor relationship management
, including contract negotiations, performance evaluations, and strategic partnership development with key technology providers
Evaluate and onboard
new technologies and service offerings
, ensuring they meet organizational standards for quality, security, and cost-effectiveness
Required Qualifications and Experience
10+ years of progressive IT leadership experience
, with a demonstrated track record in managing large-scale, complex infrastructure environments
Proven expertise
in Linux/Unix, High Performance Computing, enterprise Data Storage platforms, and Backup and recovery solutions
Demonstrated experience
leading and developing large, globally distributed teams, including senior managers and technical specialists
Strong knowledge
of private and public cloud architectures,



including experience working with major Hyperscalers
Extensive budget management experience
, with accountability for multi-million-euro technology budgets
Solid understanding
of IT security frameworks, risk management principles, and infrastructure governance best practices
Proven ability to
develop and execute technology roadmaps
that align infrastructure investments with business strategy
Strong
vendor management and contract negotiation
skills with experience managing strategic technology partnerships
Excellent
communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation
skills
Experience in highly regulated industries
(e.g., Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, Manufacturing) including familiarity with GxP, IACS, and Operational Technology (OT) compliance requirements is highly desirable
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's or Master's degree in
Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering
, or a related discipline
Relevant professional certifications in
Linux/Unix administration
,
Storage, Backups and
IT service management
(e.g., ITIL)
Experience with
High Performance Computing (HPC)
environments and workload management frameworks
Familiarity with
automation and infrastructure-as-code
tools and methodologies
Prior experience in a
global, matrixed organizational structure
with cross-functional leadership responsibilities
Key Competencies
Strategic Vision
– Ability to translate organizational goals into actionable technology strategies and long-term infrastructure roadmaps
People Leadership
– Demonstrated capability to lead, develop, and inspire large, diverse, and globally distributed teams
Decision-Making
– Sound judgment in complex, ambiguous environments with the ability to balance risk, cost, and business impact
Collaboration
– Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build consensus across all organizational levels
Accountability
– Ownership mindset with a commitment to delivering results against defined objectives and performance metrics
Innovation
– Proactive approach to identifying and leveraging new technologies, tools, and processes to drive continuous improvement
What we offer:
We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!
Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!

📌 Director (Bengaluru)
🏢 Merck
📍 Bengaluru