Principal Scientist, Mixed Modalities, Sterile Product Development

Job Description

Principal Scientist - Mixed Modalities, Sterile Product Development

The Mixed Modalities team within Sterile Product Development is responsible for developing parenteral dosage forms (injections, implants, inhaled, ocular) for small, intermediate, and large molecules from preclinical toxicology studies to commercialization. Our development teams ensure robust composition, primary packaging/device, and process selection through deep fundamental understanding and characterization such that the process is scalable without compromising stability, safety, efficacy, and delivery. During development, we leverage smart experimental design, cutting edge analytical tools, and predictive approaches to inform molecule, formulation, and process selection. In summary, our team enables the translation of preclinical candidates into non-oral drug products.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate for the position of Principal Scientist (R5) focused on developing parenteral drug products across a range of modalities (small molecule, peptides, proteins, antibody-drug conjugates, and biologics). The successful candidate must be able to collaborate in a fast-paced, integrated, multidisciplinary team environment.

Primary Duties

• Be a seasoned formulation scientist responsible for the design and development of sterile products across injectable, implantable, ophthalmic, and inhaled dosage forms.

• Provide active strategic and technical leadership on program development teams, interfacing with key stakeholders, and collaborating across functions to drive defined milestones.

• Support both early and late-stage development candidates, including screening and development of robust drug product composition, scalable process, primary packaging, compatibility characterization for processing and administration, and supporting regulatory filings.

• Collaborate with key stakeholders across the organizations (Research Division / Manufacturing Division) to drive key capability evaluations / builds and champion strategic and innovation objectives aligned with organizational goals.

• Maintain a strong network internally and across the external academic and regulatory community and build collaborations across internal company departments and key stakeholders.

• Mentor and/or supervise a small group of scientists to perform the above duties and to develop the above capabilities.

Minimum Education Requirements

Ph.D. with 8+ years industry experience, M.S. with 10+ years, or B.S. with 14+ years with a degree in Chemical / Biochemical Engineering, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry or related discipline

Required Experience and Skills
 

• Deep drug product development expertise with exposure to all stages and aspects of development (preclinical, clinical, and commercial) and cGMP industrial background.

• Demonstrated scientific leadership and a strong track record in parenteral formulation and process development reflected through industry experience and external publications and patents, including development of sterile products for IV, IM, and/or SC route of administration (liquid and lyophilized).

• Experience, desire, and a track record of effective mentorship of junior scientists towards timebound goals.

• Strong knowledge of QbD principles and experience applying the QbD tools to drug product development, and experience in designing appropriate DOE studies to inform on risks.

• Experience with process scale-up, definition of critical attributes, and technology transfer of early phase and/or late phase drug product manufacturing processes to GMP production facilities.

• Experience authoring regulatory filings, and demonstrated working knowledge of FDA, ICH, and other regulatory requirements for CMC. Strong understanding of integration and partnering with Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Non-clinical, Clinical, and other functional areas.

• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and driving key capability evaluations and technology selection / builds.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated initiative, strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, and a strong desire to learn and contribute.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience with intermediate modalities (including oligonucleotides and peptides), non-conventional sterile dosage forms (including ocular and inhaled products), and/or alternate delivery technologies (e.g., high concentration, hydrogels, emulsions, suspensions, injectable depot)

• Experience influencing regulatory strategies and a track record of supporting global filings

• Experience on a large capital project team, knowledgeable of the Sterile Standards and equipment design standards, and understanding of project / engineering work process and deliverables (e.g., equipment fabrication, FAT, SAT, qualification / validation)

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceutics, Business, Cell Culture Process Development, Cell Line Development, Collaborative Development, Combination Products, Communication, Data Analysis, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), GMP Compliance, Innovative Thinking, Leadership Mentoring, Manufacturing Processes, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Biology, Pharmaceutical Process Development, Process Scale Up, Professional Collaboration, Professional Networking, Quality by Design, Regulatory Filings, Social Collaboration {+ 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:

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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

$169,700.00 - $267,200.00

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:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

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:

04/16/2026

*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.