Job Description

Position Overview

Development Science and Clinical Supply (DSCS) is an organization responsible for developing aspirational manufacturing processes, ensuring their robust control, and suppling clinical materials to trials around the world. Digital is the multiplier that will allow DSCS to deliver better molecules faster, ensure efficient filing and launch, and establish more robust supply chains and higher-confidence decisions across our portfolio. The DSCS Digital initiative was chartered with the mission to pioneer and deploy innovative digital technologies that drive the acquisition, automation and utilization of data to enhance insights, efficiency, and quality of DSCS processes and methods.

DSCS Digital is seeking an accomplished and visionary Principal Scientist to lead the Automation of Physical Lab Processes sub-team within our Physical Lab Automation workstream. This role is critical to our mission of transforming laboratory operations through innovative automation solutions, driving digital transformation, and enabling scientific excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for the Automation of Physical Lab Processes sub-team, guiding the development and implementation of advanced automation solutions in physical laboratory environments.

• Design and implement a capital plan to purchase critical new automation equipment that helps to transform our digital footprint and data acquisition capabilities.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including scientists, engineers, IT, and digital transformation leads to identify and prioritize opportunities for automation that enhance efficiency, data integrity, and safety.

• Design, prototype, and deploy automated systems for sample handling, analytical instrumentation, and workflow orchestration within the physical lab setting.

• Oversee the evaluation and integration of emerging technologies (robotics, IoT, machine learning) to optimize laboratory operations.

• Establish and maintain best practices for system validation, documentation, and compliance with regulatory standards.

• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Serve as a subject matter expert and advocate for laboratory automation across DSCS Digital, representing the team in internal and external forums.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences, Computer Science, or a related field and 5 years of experience; or B.S. in Chemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences, Computer Science, or a related field and 8 years of experience.

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in laboratory automation, process engineering, or related disciplines, in a CMC setting.

• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing automated laboratory systems, including hardware and software integration.

• Strong understanding of physical lab workflows and challenges in a scientific R&D or QC environment.

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex projects from ideation through deployment.

• Experience with digital transformation initiatives and familiarity with data management best practices in laboratory settings.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

Preferred Skills

• Hands-on experience with robotics platforms, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and data analytics tools.

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements (e.g., GxP, ISO standards) as they apply to automated lab systems.

• Track record of successful technology adoption and change management in scientific environments.

#PRD

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Analytical Instrumentation, Capital Planning, Cell Culture Process Development, Cell Line Development, Combination Products, Communication, Computer Science, Data Analysis, Data Integrity, Digital Transformation, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Innovative Thinking, Laboratory Automation, Laboratory Informatics, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Leadership Mentoring, Machine Learning (ML), Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Pharmaceutical Process Development, Process Engineering, Process Technologies, Professional Collaboration, Professional Networking {+ 5 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:

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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

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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:

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:

02/2/2026

*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.