Associate Scientist, Downstream – Biologics Drug Substance Commercialization

Merck; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking a motivated scientist/engineer to join our Bioprocess Drug Substance Commercialization (BDSC) group. You will contribute to late-stage process development, technology transfer, and on‑the‑floor support of biologics in a collaborative manufacturing environment.

The role focuses on hands-on downstream processing, including lab-scale characterization, pilot-scale development, and preparation of technical documents for PPQ and licensure, with emphasis on quality, timelines, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in chemical engineering, chemistry, biology, or related field.
• Experience executing lab activities, planning experiments, data analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to perform experiments independently meeting timelines and quality expectations.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Execute hands-on experiments in biologics downstream processing, including lab-scale characterization, pilot-scale development, and scale-up/down model development.
• Collaborate with commercial manufacturing teams as a process sciences representative to support facility start-up and in-line support activities.
• Author and/or review technical documents to support Process Performance Qualification (PPQ) and licensure.

Skills

Lab experiments

Data analysis

Independent experimentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology or comparable discipline

Tools

Membrane filtration

Chromatography

Ultrafiltration

Tangential flow filtration

Viral clearance

Job description

Job Description

We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Our manufacturing division is at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases. We are seeking a motivated scientist/engineer to join our Bioprocess Drug Substance Commercialization (BDSC) group. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work on late-stage process development, technology transfer, and in-line support of biologics.

Responsibilities

• Execute hands‑on experiments in biologics downstream processing, including lab-scale process characterization, pilot-scale process development, and process scale‑up/scale‑down model development.


• Collaborate with commercial manufacturing teams as a process sciences representative to support facility start‑up and in-line support activities, including on‑the‑floor support for drug substance manufacturing as needed.


• Author and/or review technical documents to support Process Performance Qualification (PPQ) and licensure.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology or comparable discipline.


• Experience executing lab activities, including authoring study protocols, planning and performing experiments, performing data analysis, and writing technical reports.


• Ability to execute experiments independently in a manner that meets quality and timeline expectations.


• Well‑developed communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills, with an attention to detail.

Preferred

• Experience with downstream processing of monoclonal antibody (mAb) products or similar products in a laboratory or manufacturing setting, including unit operations such as membrane filtration, preparative chromatography, ultrafiltration or tangential flow filtration, and viral clearance.


• Large molecule drug substance technology transfer experience.


• Collaboration with analytical teams, pilot‑scale, and/or manufacturing environments.


• Experience authoring technical documentation in support of the following: process description, process characterization, process performance qualification, risk assessment, control strategy, process comparability reports, and/or regulatory submissions.


• Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) awareness or experience.

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.

Requirements

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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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

The salary range for this role is

$71,900.00 - $113,200.00

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.

Employee Status

Regular

Relocation

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

Shift

1st - Day

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

N/A

Job Posting End Date

09/19/2026

• 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.