Associate Principal Scientist, Immunology Discovery

MSD Malaysia; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement benefits

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist in Immunology for the San Diego discovery team. You will lead immunology strategies, design complex in vitro/ex vivo studies, and mentor junior scientists while coordinating with cross-functional partners to advance early programs toward clinical candidates.

The role demands a Ph.D. in immunology with 5+ years in drug discovery, strong data interpretation, and the ability to communicate science to diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in immunology or related biomedical science with 5+ years in drug discovery.
• Experience contributing to or leading discovery-stage programs or initiatives.
• Strong immunology background with knowledge of immune-mediated diseases and preclinical models.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive immunology project strategies and collaborate with Discovery Immunology and other functions.
• Lead cross-functional teams to advance candidates from early discovery to clinic, ensuring milestones.
• Design, execute, and interpret in vitro and ex vivo studies aligned with program goals.
• Identify and implement innovative approaches to increase efficiency and progression of programs.
• Mentor less experienced scientists to promote scientific rigor and collaboration.
• Communicate data and strategy effectively to stakeholders and management.

Skills

Immunology expertise

Cross-functional leadership

In vitro & ex vivo assays

Multi-color flow cytometry

Data analysis

Education

Ph.D. in Immunology

Tools

FlowJo

GraphPad Prism

Excel

RT‑PCR

ELISA

Job description

Job Description Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. As an R&D driven pharmaceutical company, we strive to excel and deliver for patients worldwide through leading edge research, scientific breakthroughs and dedication to improving the lives of patients. The Discovery Immunology organization is developing and advancing innovative therapies for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases across Gastroenterology, Rheumatology and Dermatology, to address significant unmet medical needs. We are seeking an Associate Principal Scientist with strong background in Immunology and experience in drug discovery to join our Immunology Discovery team in San Diego, CA. This role will serve as Biology Lead on early‑stage immunology programs, driving the design and implementation of innovative strategies and technologies to enable target validation, differentiation and derisking, and development of next‑generation modalities. The successful candidate will participate in and lead cross‑functional teams, defining and executing the discovery strategy for multiple programs to support advancement of immunology and inflammation therapeutics from early discovery to clinical candidates.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and drive drug discovery immunology project/program strategies and collaborate effectively with colleagues within Discovery Immunology and across other functional areas (i.e. Discovery Biologics, Quantitative Biosciences, Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism and Bioanalytics) to achieve organizational objectives
• Participate in and/or lead multiple cross‑functional teams to advance therapeutic candidates from early discovery to clinic, ensuring successful and timely completion of project/program milestones
• Lead from the bench ‑ independently designing, executing and interpreting complex in vitro and ex vivo studies aligned with program goals, while also leading and overseeing the experiments of others
• Identify, validate and implement new and innovative approaches (including novel technologies) to increase efficiency and productivity and drive program progression
• Share expertise with colleagues and provide mentorship to less experienced scientists to ensure a culture of scientific rigor, collaboration and continuous learning
• Integrate and interpret complex data and communicate science and strategy to stakeholders and management

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Ph.D. (with 5+ years) in immunology, cell biology or related biomedical science and relevant drug discovery experience with demonstrated experience contributing to or leading discovery‑stage programs or initiatives
• Required Experience and Skills: Strong immunology background with extensive knowledge of immune‑mediated diseases across Gastroenterology, Rheumatology or Dermatology, and related preclinical models Broad experience in cell biology techniques (including culture of cell lines, immune cells and other primary cells, in vitro and ex vivo cell‑based assays, multi‑color flow cytometry), immunoassay platforms (e.g. ELISA, meso scale discovery and molecular biology (e.g. RT‑PCR) Proficiency in data analysis using Excel, Prism (GraphPad), FlowJo Ability to work independently and operate effectively within cross‑functional and matrixed teams Strong problem‑solving and critical‑thinking skills Ability to lead by influencing and mentoring others Ability to communicate data and program strategies effectively to broad audiences
• Preferred Experience and Skills: Experience leading cross‑functional biologics or chemistry discovery programs for Gastroenterology, Dermatology, and/or Rheumatology, especially autoimmune or immune‑mediated disorders, including in both large and small pharma contexts Experience in translational research and biomarker discovery Prior experience working with multiple therapeutic modalities (small molecule, peptide, biologic, etc.)

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this role is $142,400.00 - $224,100.00. 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

We are 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

Work Arrangements and Eligibility:

Employee Status: Regular Relocation: Domestic/International 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: 09/30/2026 *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.

Location and Residency:

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

Recruiter Policy:

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.

Additional Information:

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.