Associate Principal. Scientist, Chemistry Full-time NEW

Associate Principal Scientist

Our company is currently seeking an exceptional individual for a technical leadership position within the Supply Analytical Sciences (SAS) – Analytical Chemistry in Development and Supply (ACDS) organization located at Rahway, NJ, or West Point, PA, USA. The successful candidate will be joining a group of innovative scientists with broad deliverables ranging from API and Drug Product analytical troubleshooting to drive lead-time reduction and efficiency gains in support of our company's World Class Supplier and Operationalizing Quality goals. The Associate Principal Scientist position is a laboratory-based scientific track role in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team environment. The incumbent will be expected to influence both internal partners as well as external sites in our Company's world-wide Manufacturing network in identifying, implementing, and troubleshooting laboratory test methods to ensure robust supply of materials.

The incumbent will:

1. Author analytical procedures, development and validation protocols and reports, technical reports, experimental designs, regulatory submission documents, etc.
2. Perform investigations with strong technical troubleshooting skills.
3. Provide documentation/technical input during inspections and audits (Regulatory and Internal) and have a working knowledge of data integrity.
4. Evaluate analytical methods associated with the critical quality attributes of cGMP materials.
5. The individual may also be responsible for technical training of staff, as needed, on analytical techniques and problem solving.
6. Possess a strong technical background with excellent problem‑solving skills, solid leadership abilities, strong knowledge of cGMP and Data Integrity are considered essential, as these will be key attributes necessary to facilitate the ability to influence change in efforts to realize Our Company's World Class Supply vision.

Education Requirements:

• MS in Chemistry or related discipline with at least 8 years of relevant pharmaceutical development experience or PhD in Analytical Chemistry or related discipline with at least 2 years of experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Working knowledge of analytical techniques used in commercial testing of raw materials, intermediates, and drug substances.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills as well as flexibility to work in a dynamic environment (internal and external communications)
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills with flexibility and sensitivity in dealing with different cultures.
• Self-motivated to take ownership and accountability of issues and drive them to completion.
• Ability to quickly adapt to changes and develop appropriate plans for managing risks.
• Advance knowledge of ALCOA+ principles.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Advance experience developing various analytical techniques (e.g., chromatography, and spectroscopy) and product specification to support drug substance development and registration.
• Have a fundamental knowledge of synthetic (organic) chemistry.
• Advance experience with API development and commercialization for an analytical perspective.
• Advance experience working with contract manufacture organizations and/or contract research organizations.
• Advance experience working in cross-functional teams.

Required Skills: Accountability, Adaptability, Analytical Chemistry, Analytical Development, API Development, Chemical Synthesis, Chromatography, Clinical Judgment, Data Analysis, Data Integrity, Experimental Development, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Laboratory Techniques, Laboratory Testing, Lead Optimization, Organic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Development, Professional Networking, Risk Management, Scientific Research, Synthetic Chemistry, Technical Leadership, Technical Training

Preferred Skills:

Salary range for this role is $142,400.00 – $224,100.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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: Regular

Relocation: Domestic

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 02/23/2026

*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.