Associate Principal Scientist, Automation & Screening (Biologics Discovery)

Merck & Co.; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 251,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co. in South San Francisco is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist to lead automation for antibody discovery, advancing automated workflows and high-throughput screening across programs.

You will manage a small team of automation scientists, prioritize initiatives, and collaborate with protein sciences, data sciences, engineering and therapeutic teams to deliver robust, scalable, decision-enabling capabilities.

Qualifications

• Led automated labs or high-throughput screening across multiple programs.
• Hands-on experience with automated liquid handling platforms and method programming.
• Experience with data processing and instrument integration using Python/SQL/R.
• Experience supervising a small automation team.
• Excellent cross-functional communication.

Responsibilities

• Develop and advance automated workflows for antibody discovery.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership to the automation team.
• Prioritize work, manage resources across discovery workstreams.
• Collaborate across protein sciences, data sciences, engineering, and therapeutic teams.
• Deliver robust, scalable, decision-enabling capabilities.

Skills

Automation leadership

Hamilton Microlab STAR

Robotic arms

Python

SQL

R

Flow cytometry

ELISA

Team management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree (with 10+ years)

Master's degree (with 6+ years)

PhD (with 4+ years)

Tools

Laboratory automation software

Job description

Job Description

We are recruiting an Associate Principal Scientist to support our Molecular Discovery group located in South San Francisco. Antibody Generation within Discovery Biologics delivers differentiated therapeutic antibodies through innovative discovery, screening, and characterization approaches. We collaborate across protein sciences, data sciences, engineering, and therapeutic area teams to advance programs from early discovery through candidate selection.

We are seeking an innovative scientific leader to develop and advance automated workflows for antibody discovery and characterization in South San Francisco. The Associate Principal Scientist will combine automation and bioassay expertise with strategic and operational leadership, manage a small team of scientists, establish priorities, and support team development while delivering robust, scalable, and decision enabling capabilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Bachelor's (with 10+ years), Master's (with 6+ years) or Ph.D. (with 4+ years) in a relevant biological science or related field and relevant experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated scientific leadership directing complex laboratory automation or high throughput screening activities across multiple programs.
• Hands on experience with automated liquid handling platforms, such as the Hamilton Microlab STAR, robotic arms, and related automation software, including method programming, configuration, and troubleshooting.
• Experience with Python, SQL, R, or related tools for data processing, workflow automation, or instrument integration.
• Strong experience with binding and cell-based assays, including ELISA and flow cytometry or fluorescence activated cell sorting.
• Ability to translate scientific needs into scalable workflows, define experimental plans, resolve complex technical issues, and manage priorities and resources across concurrent biotherapeutic discovery workstreams.
• Prior experience managing or supervising a small team of automation scientists, including coaching, performance feedback, and professional development.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and influencing skills in a matrixed research organization.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience training laboratory users, standardizing automated methods, and overseeing safe and compliant laboratory operations.
• Experience evaluating or implementing innovative antibody discovery technologies, such as microfluidics, genetic or messenger RNA immunization, single cell screening, or other high throughput approaches.
• Strong knowledge of antibody discovery, characterization, NGS, protein engineering, and biologics modality design.
• Contributions to publications, intellectual property, technology strategy, or external collaborations.

Required Skills:

Antibodies, Antibody Discovery, Automation, Cell-Based Assays, ELISA Techniques, Flow Cytometry, Laboratory Automation, Laboratory Robotics, Laboratory Techniques, Liquid Handling, People Management, Robotic Liquid Handlers, Team Supervision

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 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

The primary location for this posting is:

USA - California - South San Francisco (Grand Ave)

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$159,600.00 - $251,200.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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 .

Additional location(s):

Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a