Senior Scientist

Job Description

Senior Scientist, Process Cell Sciences (PCS) at Rahway, NJ

The Biologics Process Research & Development organization within our company's Research Laboratories is responsible for developing the drug substance manufacturing processes for our company's biologics pipeline. We work closely with colleagues in Discovery, Pre-clinical and Early Development to rapidly develop manufacturing processes for diverse biotherapeutics, and efficiently manufacture material to supply clinical trials. We are also responsible for commercial process development and development and implementation of new manufacturing technologies. We work with our partners in our company's Manufacturing Division to commercialize and launch new products.

We are seeking a highly motivated and energetic individual to join our Process Cell Sciences (PCS) group as Senior Scientist. In this role, the successful candidate will work closely with team members of PCS and help develop and characterize mammalian production cell lines to support innovative biologics pipeline. Candidate must have experience in executing complex study designs requiring highly organized data collection and management. The selected candidate will be expected to work independently, including proactive planning, trouble shooting and successful execution of complex experimental protocols for cell line development and technology assessment. The selected candidate will be developed to serve as a technical lead and functional area representative on project teams.

Position Qualifications:

Education Requirement:

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, or related Biological Sciences with 0 - 2 years of cell line development experience in industry.

• MS in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or related Biological Sciences with at least 4 years of cell line development experience in industry.

• BS in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or related Biological Sciences with at least 7 years of cell line development experience in industry.

Required Experience and Skills

• In-depth understanding of cell biology/molecular biology and hands-on experience of molecular subcloning, vector design, and mammalian cell culture.

• Familiar with industrial cell line development workflow.

• Hands-on experience in designing and assembling synthetic genetic circuits using modular parts to incorporate transcriptional, translational, and post-translational regulation.

• Experienced in integrating systems biology models with large-scale datasets to predict the impact of genetic modifications on cell behavior and product quality.

• Experienced in cell line genetic characterization techniques (e.g., Southern blotting, gene copy number analysis, etc.)

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively in a team environment.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex issues in a succinct and logical manner.

• Strong technical writing skills

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experienced in regulatory filing and preparing relevant documentation.

• Familiar with regulatory guidelines related to biologics cell line development and cell bank characterization.

• Knowledge in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and genome editing technologies.

• Expertise of database and statistical software (e.g., JMP, Spotfire)

• Hands on experience in library construction and data management for DNA-seq and RNA-seq workflows.

Required Skills:

Biological Sciences, Data Analysis, Genome Editing, Library Construction, Mammalian Cell Culture, Molecular Biology, Synthetic Biology, Technical Writing, Vector Design

Preferred Skills:

Cell Biology, Cell Line Development

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

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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:

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:

05/8/2026

*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.