Senior Scientist, Process Chemistry

Job Description

The Process Chemistry organization located at our Rahway, NJ site is seeking highly motivated and exceptional chemists who are looking for an opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment that provides a high degree of technical responsibility. A successful candidate will design and develop efficient, scalable manufacturing routes and clinical supply processes for multi‑modality drug substances — including small molecules, macrocyclic peptides, and bioconjugates — supporting preclinical through clinical deliveries in our internal facilities and enabling successful tech transfer. Responsibilities include researching and evaluating chemical routes, optimizing reaction conditions, ensuring reproducibility at scale, and conducting process demonstrations and tech transfers. In addition, the candidate will be expected to stay current with modern synthetic methodologies, drive continuous improvement and innovation within the group, and engage with the external scientific community through publications and presentations.

 

The ideal candidate must possess a Ph.D. in chemistry with experience in methodology/catalysis (including chemocatalysis, biocatalysis, and heterogeneous catalysis), total synthesis, physical organic chemistry, or flow chemistry, along with a proven track record of solving complex problems. The candidate must be highly self-motivated, possess strong experimental skills, have excellent written and oral communication abilities, collaborate effectively on multidisciplinary teams, and be able to demonstrate adaptability in a fast-paced, dynamic research environment. We expect the chosen candidate to start the role in 2026.

 

Specific responsibilities will include the following:

• Act as an expert in the laboratory, executing on program and chemistry strategy.

• Develop innovative solutions to complex chemistry problems across a diverse portfolio of projects and modalities.

• Design and develop efficient processes for clinical campaigns, this involves extensive reaction design and optimization to ensure the scalability and reproducibility of our processes.

 

Education

• PhD in Chemistry or Organic Chemistry completed no later than June 2026

 

Requirements

• Must have conducted outstanding research that may be shared during the interview process.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and possess exceptional written and oral communication skills.

• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.

• High-level leadership and interpersonal skills.

PRD

Required Skills:

Accountability, Adaptability, Biocatalysis, Chemical Proteomics, Chemical Synthesis, Chemistry, Chemometrics, Chromatography, Heterogeneous Catalyst, Homogeneous Catalysis, Mass Spectrometry Based Proteomics, Organic Chemistry, Protein Chromatography, Synthetic Biology

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:

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:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

04/13/2026

*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.