Principal Scientist, Discovery Separation Sciences

MSD Malaysia; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 176,000 - 277,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Boston, MA is seeking a Principal Scientist to lead Discovery Chemistry's Separation Sciences group. The role oversees purification and analytical chromatography supporting diverse drug discovery programs across modalities.

The candidate will drive scientific leadership, capability development, and cross-functional collaboration, while advancing automation, informatics, and digital workflows in a high-precision lab environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in chromatographic purification and analytical separations for drug discovery.
• Expertise in HPLC, UHPLC, LC-MS, SFC and preparative chromatography.
• Experience with high-throughput experimentation and automated purification workflows.
• Proven ability to lead and develop scientific staff and collaborate cross-functionally.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific leadership and laboratory delivery for purification and analytical capabilities.
• Develop innovative technologies, automation-enabled workflows, and digital capabilities.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop scientists and lab staff across the organization.
• Collaborate with Medicinal Chemistry, Analytical Sciences, IT, and external partners.

Skills

Chromatography

HPLC

UHPLC

LC-MS

SFC

Laboratory automation

Project leadership

Separation sciences

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry or related

M.S. in Chemistry or related

B.S. in Chemistry or related

Tools

LIMS

Job description

Job Description Position Overview

We are seeking an accomplished scientist and leader to join Discovery Chemistry as a Principal Scientist within the Boston Separation Sciences group. The successful candidate will provide scientific leadership and operational oversight for purification and analytical chromatography capabilities supporting drug discovery programs across multiple modalities, including small molecules, peptides, targeted protein degraders, and emerging therapeutic formats.

Primary Responsibilities

• Scientific Leadership and Laboratory Delivery Serve as a recognized subject matter expert in purification and separation sciences, providing scientific leadership and contributing to purification and analytical activities that enable Discovery Chemistry programs through the delivery of high-quality compounds, analytical data, and scientific recommendations. Provide technical leadership and expertise in chromatographic purification, analytical separations, impurity isolation, and related technologies, while guiding resolution of complex scientific and operational challenges. Foster a culture of scientific excellence, operational efficiency, safety, and quality throughout laboratory operations.
• Capability Development and Innovation Champion and implement innovative technologies, laboratory informatics platforms, LIMS solutions, automation-enabled purification workflows, and digital capabilities that enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of Separation Sciences capabilities. Establish best practices, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and contribute to capability roadmaps aligned with Discovery Chemistry priorities.
• People Leadership and Talent Development Recruit, manage, mentor, and develop scientists and laboratory staff, building both technical expertise and leadership capability across the organization. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing environment that supports employee development, succession planning, and scientific excellence.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration and Influence Partner closely with Medicinal Chemistry, Process Chemistry, Analytical Sciences, Automation, Informatics, IT, and other research functions to support project progression and capability development. Serve as a trusted scientific partner to project teams, contributing purification and analytical expertise to project strategy and departmental initiatives.
• Operations and Infrastructure Leadership Partner in laboratory operations, instrumentation strategy, capital planning, and implementation of automation and digital solutions that improve scientific productivity. Partner with Facilities, Procurement, Engineering, IT, and external vendors to ensure reliable laboratory operations, regulatory compliance, and continuous capability advancement.
• External Scientific Engagement Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and scientific advances in separation sciences and chromatography, contributing to our company's scientific reputation through publications, presentations, collaborations, and external engagement.

Education

Minimum Requirement: Ph.D. in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline with a minimum of 8 years of relevant industrial experience in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or related drug discovery research environment. Or M.S. in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline with 10-12 years of relevant industrial experience in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or related drug discovery research environment. Or B.S. in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline with 12-15 years of relevant industrial experience in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or related drug discovery research environment.

Required Experience and Skills

Extensive experience in chromatographic purification and analytical separations supporting drug discovery programs, with expertise in HPLC, uHPLC, LCMS, SFC, and preparative chromatography technologies. Demonstrated experience supporting multiple therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, peptides, targeted protein degraders, and other emerging modalities. Experience with high-throughput experimentation (HTE), high-throughput and singleton purification workflows, laboratory automation, and analytical support within a Discovery Chemistry environment. Demonstrated ability to provide scientific leadership, influence technical direction, and deliver results through a laboratory-based scientific capability, including scientific leadership in chromatography, separation sciences, analytical chemistry, or related drug discovery capabilities. Experience implementing new technologies, laboratory informatics platforms, LIMS solutions, automation-enabled purification workflows, digital workflows, instrumentation, and process improvements. Experience managing, mentoring, and developing scientific staff, with strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills. Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Preferred Experience and Skills

Track record of cross-functional and cross-site scientific leadership, capability deployment, technology transfer, and successful collaboration across Discovery Chemistry sites, scientific disciplines, and research organizations. Experience partnering with IT, Informatics, Automation, Facilities, Procurement, and external vendors to develop and advance scientific capabilities. Experience with laboratory capital planning, laboratory build-out, infrastructure strategy, or management of scientific instrumentation portfolios. Publications, presentations, patents, or other evidence of external scientific engagement and professional visibility. #EligibleforERP Required Skills: Chromatography, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Organic Synthesis, Project Leadership, Scientific Leadership, Separation Sciences, Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC)

Salary

The salary range for this role is $176,200.00 - $277,300.00 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.

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.

Eligibility and Inclusion

• 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.
• 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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

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 and Relocation

• Employee Status: Regular
• Relocation: Domestic
• VISA Sponsorship: No
• Travel Requirements: 10%
• Shift: Not Indicated
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): Standard lab reagents

Job Posting End Date

Job Posting End Date: 09/28/2026 *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.

Company Statement

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.