Senior Scientist - Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job Description

Join our Discovery Pharmaceutical Science (DPS) team in West Point, PA and play a central role in shaping the next generation of drug candidates. DPS is a cross-functional research organization that delivers drug delivery, solid-state science, pharmaceutical chemistry, and formulation expertise to accelerate Drug Discovery and early Drug Product Development. As a Senior Scientist on our team, you will directly influence the physicochemical design and formulation strategies of preclinical drug candidates across multiple modalities.

What you’ll do:

• Lead physicochemical characterization of potential preclinical candidates, using those insights to guide design and formulation decisions.

• Identify and develop fit-for-purpose oral and parenteral formulation strategies for preclinical and clinical studies.

• Plan and execute R&D studies across a variety of administration routes and modalities, including small molecules, peptides, biologics, and vaccines.

• Generate, analyze, and present high-quality data that informs go/no-go decisions for candidate progression to clinical assessment.

• Perform studies such as solubility and crystalline-phase analysis, physical and chemical stability testing (including biologics and vaccines), and in vitro evaluation of modified-release dosage forms, as relevant to modality and delivery route.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners—including Safety Assessment, Process Research, Analytical Chemistry, and DMPK—to support selection and advancement of clinical candidates.

• Act as an embedded scientific contributor on multidisciplinary discovery teams within infectious disease and neuroscience, helping translate pharmaceutical science principles into actionable program decisions.

Your work will directly impact which molecules advance toward clinical testing and how they are formulated for safety, stability, and patient delivery. You’ll join a dynamic team where scientific insight, creativity, and collaboration accelerate real-world drug development.

Educational Requirements:

• Postdoctoral training or Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field: or

• M.S. in one of the above fields plus at least 3 years of industry experience: or

• B.S in one of the above fields plus at least 5 years of industry experience

Experience & Skills   

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.

• Strong leadership/interpersonal skills.

• Motivation to work in a team environment with cross functional interactions are essential.

eligibleforERP

PSCS

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Analytical Chemistry, Bioprocessing, Clinical Evaluations, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Data Analysis, Deep Learning, Drug Delivery, Drug Delivery Technology, Drug Development, Flow Cytometry, High-Throughput Screening, Immunotherapy, Innovative Thinking, Interpersonal Relationships, In Vitro Assays, In Vitro Studies, Medicinal Chemistry, Molecular Biology Techniques, Multi-Color Flow Cytometry, Preformulation, Process Optimization {+ 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

$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:

05/6/2026

*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.