Senior Scientist, DSCS Digital Technologies – Laboratory Automation (Hybrid) Full-time

Senior Scientist

We are seeking a Senior Scientist to join our DSCS Digital Technologies (DDT) organization, within Development Sciences and Clinical Supply (DSCS), located in either Rahway, NJ or West Point, PA.

Primary Responsibilities:

We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a portfolio of prescription medicines, oncology, vaccines and animal health products. We are driven by our purpose to develop and deliver innovative products that save and improve lives. With 69,000 employees operating in more than 140 countries, we offer state-of-the-art laboratories, plants and offices that are designed to inspire our employees as we learn, develop and grow in our careers. We are proud of our over 125 years of service to humanity and continue to be one of the world's biggest investors in Research & Development.

In the Development Sciences and Clinical Supply (DSCS) organization, we believe digital is the force multiplier that enables faster experiments, smarter decisions, more robust supply chains, and is ultimately redefining how we bring medicines to patients.

Within DSCS, the DSCS Digital Technologies (DDT) team is building the next generation of data-rich, connected lab environments—where hardware, software, and AI-driven tools work together to accelerate pharmaceutical development. Our goal is simple but ambitious: embed advanced digital capabilities into the DNA of how we work. We believe this future starts with a strong foundation of laboratory tools: innovative robotics, process analytical technology (PAT), high-throughput technologies, reliable instrumentation, and integrated systems that seamlessly transition data from the physical labs to the digital world. We believe innovation is fueled by teams that come together to build technologies that truly impact how our scientists conduct research. We're looking for a Senior Scientist to help make this vision real.

In this role, the chosen candidate will work with a team of scientists tasked with identifying, developing, and deploying digital and data-rich technologies aimed at improving the manner in which process, product, and analytical understanding is gathered. The tools that we develop are as the team developing them, and in this Senior Scientist role, the chosen candidate will leverage digital technologies to enable chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) activities across our company's small molecule, biologics, and vaccines portfolio.

The chosen candidate will leverage digital technologies spanning data integration and data engineering, focusing on applications within the PAT community, to help advance scientific research. This includes, but is not limited to, developing digital and data integration platforms for PAT, delivering solutions for digitally integrating analytical instrumentation and sensors, leveraging state-of-the-art data engineering tools to enable frictionless flow of PAT data streams, and inventing data science approaches to enable optimal extracting of information from vast PAT data sets. As such, the chosen candidate should have a robust background in data-rich technologies, data engineering, and data integrations of PAT tools, with an emphasis on developing creative new solutions to enable the next generation of pharmaceutical processes, product, and methods.

How You'll Make an Impact:

• Design the lab of the future by developing technologies that integrate robotics, analytical instrumentation, and software into cohesive, high-performing solutions
• Deliver world-renowned science by partnering with researchers to understand experimental needs and convert them into scalable digital workflows
• Work at the intersection of multiple disciplines, collaborating with experts in automation, data science, modeling, IT, and the CMC community at large
• Lead high-impact projects from concept through deployment, working across teams and stakeholders to deliver meaningful outcomes
• Continuously improve existing digital technologies and automation platforms to enhance performance, usability, and reliability
• Empower others by providing hands-on partnership, support, troubleshooting, and training to scientists using these technologies

Education Minimum Requirement:

• A Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering (i.e., Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical), Physics, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Material Science or a closely-related field (expected graduation in 2026)
• A M.S. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering (i.e., Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical), Physics, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Material Science or a closely-related field with at least 2 years of relevant experience
• A B.S. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering (i.e., Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical), Physics, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Material Science or a closely-related field with at least 4 years of relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• Highly-motivated and technology-centric scientist that is passionate about modernizing our company's development practices across biologics, vaccines, and small molecule modalities.

• Background and experience in data-rich technologies, data engineering, and digital integration across process analytical technology (PAT) ecosystems

• Demonstrated scientific ability through publications and presentations in scientific conferences.
• Excellent communication skills, demonstrated creativity, and effective interpersonal skills.
• Ability to deliver complex solutions under compressed timelines in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions.

Preferred Experience and Skills :

• Background in leveraging a broad range of data engineering and data science technologies, including digital integration of analytical instrumentation

• Expertise in process analytical technology (PAT), including designing and deploying integrated sensors that are digitally-fluent and enable frictionless flow of data streams

• Experience in new technology research, including a demonstrated track record of identifying, developing, and deploying digital and data-rich methodologies.

• Collaborative research efforts that are praised by the broader scientific community and are exemplary of a multidisciplinary group.
• Evidence of cross-functional collaboration in an academic or industrial setting.
• Motivated to learn new skills, willingness to take on new challenges, and scientific curiosity.

Required Skills:

Analytical Instrumentation, Biology, Biopharmaceuticals, Bioprocessing, Chemistry, Data Analysis, Data Science, Digital Technology, Flow Cytometry, Innovative Thinking, Laboratory Automation, Laboratory Techniques, Pharmaceutical Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Process Analytical Technology (PAT), Process Optimization, Scientific Research

Preferred Skills:

The salary range for this role is

$117,000.00 – $184,200.00

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.