Associate Principal Scientist, Upstream Processes

Merck; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in Rahway, New Jersey, is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist to lead upstream process development for biotherapeutics. You will design, develop, and optimize cell culture processes and transfer into clinical and commercial manufacturing, partnering with Discovery, Downstream Process Development, Analytical Sciences, and Manufacturing.

The role requires strong scientific leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and mentoring of junior staff, with emphasis on process improvement,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. with 4+ years' experience or Master's with 8+ years' experience in chemical engineering, Bioengineering, Biological Engineering, or a related field
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and fed-batch processes to produce recombinant proteins
• Experience with CHO cell biology, metabolism, and large-scale production systems
• Familiarity with statistical methods and data analysis tools
• Experience with bioreactors from bench to pilot scale and scale-up principles

Responsibilities

• Lead upstream process development for high-yield, robust cell culture processes.
• Oversee process development, characterization, and regulatory filing activities for PPQs/BLAs.
• Collaborate with Discovery, Cell Line, Downstream, Analytical Sciences, and Manufacturing for integrated solutions.
• Drive platform improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
• Publish externally and pursue patenting strategies.
• Mentor junior staff and manage cross-functional teams

Skills

Mammalian culture

Fed-batch processes

CHO biology

Design of experiments

Bioreactor scaling

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication skills

Project leadership

Bioreactor modeling

Process development

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical/Bioengineering

M.S. in Engineering

Tools

SIMCA

JMP

Job description

Merck in Rahway, New Jersey, is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist to lead upstream process development for biotherapeutics. You will design, develop, and optimize cell culture processes and transfer into clinical and commercial manufacturing, partnering with Discovery, Downstream Process Development, Analytical Sciences, and Manufacturing.

The role requires strong scientific leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and mentoring of junior staff, with emphasis on process improvement,