Senior Scientist, Small Molecule – Analytical R&D GMP Labs Full-time

Senior Scientist, Small Molecule Analytical Research & Development

The Small Molecule Analytical Research and Development group has an opening for a Senior Scientist based in Rahway, NJ. Join us and experience our culture first-hand – one of strong ethics & integrity, diversified experiences, exceptional science, and a resounding passion for improving human health through innovative drug delivery technologies and predictive analytical tools. As part of our global team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

In your role as a Senior Scientist, you will be part of a team of Analytical Chemists working on cross-functional scientific teams to enable novel small molecule, peptide, and oligonucleotide drug development through laboratory-based analytical characterization and statistical data analysis.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support execution of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) activities such as release and stability testing to support development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), pharmaceutical formulations, and manufacturing processes using both traditional and advanced analytical tools.
• Document the execution, procedure, results, and conclusions of experiments in a detailed and organized manner following ALCOA principles.
• Troubleshoot and investigate any challenges associated with the GMP testing through active collaboration with cross-functional project teams and/or Quality stakeholders.
• Validate and implement analytical methods to support release and stability testing of clinical materials.
• Perform data entry, data review, and author analytical reports or data summaries.
• Strong collaboration with fellow Analytical Research & Development colleagues as well as cross-functional partners such as Global Development Quality, Process Chemistry, and Pharmaceutical Operations.
• Support compliance audit/inspection activities.

Education Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science degree, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant industry experience OR
• Master of Science degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or other Life Sciences with a minimum of 3 years of relevant industry experience

Required Experience and Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as interpersonal skills, are necessary to qualify for this role. Candidates will also be required to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Though not required, the ideal applicant would have hands-on experience in GMP operations, advanced chromatographic separation science, spectroscopy analysis, dissolution testing, and other analytical techniques.
• In addition, experience with Empower, data science, and LCMS are also a plus.

Required Skills: Accountability, Adaptability, Analytical Characterization, Bioprocessing, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Data Analysis, Data Entry, Data Science, Deep Learning, Drug Delivery Technology, Drug Development, Flow Cytometry, GMP Compliance, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Healthcare Innovation, High-Throughput Screening, Innovative Thinking, Interpersonal Relationships, Machine Learning (ML), Manufacturing Processes, Medicinal Chemistry, Molecular Biology Techniques, Multi-Color Flow Cytometry, Pharmaceutical Formulations {+ 4 more}

Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only: 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: EEOC Know Your Rights

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

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”.

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

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: No

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 03/17/2026

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