Job Description

The Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPS) group based in South San Francisco, CA is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist with biologics developability/manufacturability experience. DPS is a multi-disciplinary research group that provides drug delivery, solid state crystal form characterization, formulation support and small molecule and biologics developability assessments at the development and drug discovery interface. Our team is responsible for the characterization of pre-clinical drug candidates' physicochemical properties. We aim to work with partner groups to select candidates with optimal development properties while balancing all other key therapeutic properties. Our research also covers identification of preclinical formulations for pharmacology and toxicology studies and ideally for the clinic across a variety of administration routes and modalities (small molecules, peptides, and biologics).

Key Responsibilities:

In this exciting role, you will focus on the characterization, early formulation studies, developability assessment and delivery approaches for potential biologic drug candidates. You will utilize analytical tools (such as HPSEC, light scattering, HPLC, cIEF, and DSF) to carry out these developability assessments and help identify root causes for physical and chemical instability. Your research will help identify suitable first in human and toxicology formulations. In this role, you will carry out research on traditional and novel biologics formulations. You will serve as a team member and execute lab experiments yourself with minimal supervision. You will generate these key data sets and convey their meaning to the discovery teams you work on developing strategies to optimize molecules, their formulations and initial development activities. Within DPS you will have the opportunity to contribute to departmental scientific initiatives as an individual contributor or as a small team leader.

This role will also interact closely with other key functions required for the progression of clinical candidate selection including Safety Assessment, Process Research, Protein Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, and Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics.

The successful candidate should have a track record of biologics understanding and development activities as well as a demonstrated track record of problem solving (as evidenced by publication, talks, or patents).

Position Qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor’s (with 12 years ), Master’s (with 8 years) or Ph.D. (with 4 years) in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, Protein Engineering or related field of study and relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills:

Practical experience in the characterization and formulation of biologics
Practical experience and/or a strong interest to learn and implement new drug delivery and analytical technologies
Practical experience working within cross-disciplinary project teams and achieving results in a matrix environment
Strong organizational and technical problem-solving skills and excellent management in driving results and innovation
Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong leadership/interpersonal skills and a motivation to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions

Preferred Experience and Skills:

Experience in an industry setting
Demonstrated experience solving program challenges by leveraging strong scientific fundamentals in related subject areas including organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, process development, and/or engineering
Experience in pre-clinical / clinical formulation development and physicochemical characterization and drug delivery of proteins
Advanced data analysis and visualization skills

#EligibleforERP

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:

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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.

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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

$156,500.00 - $246,300.00

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/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

YES

Required Skills:

Biologics, Characterization Techniques, Communication, Drug Delivery, Drug Formulations, Problem Solving

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

08/29/2025

*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.