Associate Principal Scientist, Analytical Chemistry - Inhalation Product Development

Job Description

Associate Principal Scientist, Analytical Commercialization Technology

The Analytical Commercialization Technology (ACT) group within Analytical Chemistry in Development and Supply (ACDS) is seeking applicants for an Associate Principal Scientist position available at the Rahway, NJ and West Point, PA sites. The successful candidate will utilize innovative analytical characterization technologies to drive late-stage pharmaceutical drug product development and commercialization. The Associate Principal Scientist position is seeking applicants with deep knowledge and experience in inhalation product development and characterization.

The Associate Principal Scientist responsibilities include, but not limited to, analytical method development and validation, drug product testing and analytical investigations in a cGMP environment, drug product and manufacturing process characterization, drug product stability studies, specification development, manufacturing process scale-up and validation support, preparation of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) documents for global regulatory submissions, and responses to regulatory questions. The successful candidate must be able to collaborate in a dynamic, integrated, and multidisciplinary team environment. 

The ideal candidate will have knowledge and proficiency in the following areas: separation techniques and aerosol science. Prior experience with inhalation product development, analytical testing and characterization is required. Applicants must have effective organizational skills, multi-tasking, problem solving, and oral and written communications skills.

Education Minimum Requirements:  

• PhD in Analytical Chemistry or related discipline with 3+ years of relevant pharmaceutical development experience or MS in Analytical Chemistry or related discipline with 8+ years of relevant pharmaceutical development experience or BS in Analytical Chemistry or related discipline with 10+ years of relevant pharmaceutical development experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• Experience with inhalation product development, characterization and testing including aerodynamic particle size distribution (APSD), delivered dose uniformity (DDU), metered dose uniformity (MDU) and particle size distribution (PSD)

• Strong background and extensive hands-on experience with common analytical techniques such as Ultrahigh/High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC/HPLC), Gas Chromatography, Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Karl Fischer titration, and dissolution

• Strong chemistry knowledge

• Demonstrated problem solving ability 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated creativity, and strong interpersonal skills

• Ability to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience with method development and validation

• Familiarity with authoring relevant CMC sections of regulatory submissions

Required Skills:

Analytical Chemistry, Analytical Development, Chemical Synthesis, Computational Chemistry, Dry Powder Inhalers (DPI), Gas Chromatography Analysis, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Inhalers, Karl Fischer Titrations, Lead Optimization, Product Development, Spectrophotometry

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

$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:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

05/9/2026

*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.