Principal Scientist, Lab Platform Disruptive Technologies

MSD; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 194,000 - 306,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Cambridge, MA is seeking a senior scientist to lead the development and deployment of next-gen lab-based technologies for rapid biologics discovery. You will drive data-driven approaches and hands-on method development across a team of scientists.

The role emphasizes scalable capabilities, cross-functional collaboration with data science and protein engineering, and delivering measurable program impact within a global bioscience setting.

Qualifications

• PhD in Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Chemical Biology, or related field with 7+ years industry experience; MS or BS with 12+ years industry experience.
• Experience developing large-scale, high-throughput quantitative experimental methods for biologics discovery.
• Experience translating published or externally developed methods into demonstrably valuable internal capabilities.
• Proven leadership track record.

Responsibilities

• Develop rapid, quantitative and high-throughput lab-based capabilities for biologics hit identification and optimization.
• Build and execute a technology platform roadmap for arrayed and pooled technologies from concept to adoption.
• Partner with computational protein engineering and data science groups for integrated discovery workflows.
• Drive capability improvements in data richness, speed, and throughput.
• Lead a talented team of lab-based scientists.
• As a hands-on contributor, maximize program impact of emerging technologies.
• Collaborate effectively across geography and reporting lines.
• Establish rigorous benchmarks and success criteria.

Skills

Lab leadership

High-throughput

Data-driven discovery

GenAI/ML in discovery

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in Biochemistry/Bioengineering/Chemical Biology

MS/BS with 12+ years industry experience

Tools

Mass Spectrometry

Microscopy

Automation workflows

Protein arrays

Job description

Job Description

We are on a quest for cures and are committed to be the world’s premier, most research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Our teams combine leading drug discovery capabilities and world-class R&D with the purpose of turning breakthrough science into life-changing medicines.

Discovery Biologics Disruptive Technologies is seeking atalented and experienced scientistto lead the development and deployment ofnext-genlab-based experimentaltechnologiestoenable rapid, data-driven biologics discovery.This individual will identify and translate emerging, literature-supported technologies into scalable internal capabilities, with a focus onmultiplyingboth the scale and speed of quantitative data generation (e.g.,bindingmeasurements)to advance therapeutic programs viaGenAI/ML-driven discovery anditerative design-make-testcycles. The role includes leading a teamwith expectation for stronghands-on contribution to method development, andwill beaccountable for driving measurable program and broader organizational impact.The role is based out of our Cambridge, MA facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Developand maturerapid, quantitative andhigh-throughputlab-based capabilities forbiologics hit identification and optimization
• Build and executeatechnologyplatformroadmapfor arrayed and pooled technologies,from proof-of-concept through widespreadprogram adoption
• Partner effectively withcomputationalprotein engineering and data science groupstowardefficient,integratednext-gen discoveryworkflows
• Drive capability improvements indata richness, speed, throughput
• Lead atalentedteam oflab-basedscientists
• As a hands-on individual contributor, realize and maximizeprogram impact of emerging technologies
• Collaborateeffectivelyacross geography and reporting lines
• Establishrigorousbenchmarks(e.g.throughput,speed,reproducibility,data quality)and success criteria

Qualifications & Experience

• PhD in Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Chemical Biology, or related field with7+ yearsdirectly relevantindustry experience; MS or BS with 12+ years industry experience.
• Experience developinglarge-scale,high throughputquantitativeexperimentalmethodsfor biologics discovery
• Experiencetranslating published or externally developed methods intodemonstrablyvaluableinternal capabilities
• Proven leadership track record

Required Skills

• Demonstrated expertise advancing validated assays and methods toward broad organizational impact
• Deep hands-onexpertisein one or more of:
• Quantitative pooledbindingassays(10k+ sequences)
• Rapid and high throughput advanced endpoint assays (e.g.cell-based function,stability, localization, etc)
• Lab-on-chip technologiesand protein arrays
• Microfluidics
• Provensuccess inleadership,talent developmentand mentorship
• Strong understanding of biochemistry and biophysical characterization methods
• Cross-function project leadership track record
• Strong ability to collaborate across reporting lines, especially with protein engineers and data scientists

Preferred Skills

• Strong demonstrated understanding of protein structure-function relationships
• Experience applying invitro transcription and translation (IVTT)
• Direct experience in biophysicalprotein characterization
• Therapeutic high throughput pre-developability and developability assessment
• Automation and scalable experimental workflows
• Experience inworkflows leveraging generative AI ML

Required Skills:

Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), Biodesign, Detail-Oriented, Emerging Technologies, Ethical Compliance, Gene Cloning, Gene Expression Analysis, Immunochemistry, Leadership Engagement, Mass Spectrometry Analysis, Microscopy Techniques, Project Leadership, Protein Engineering, Protein Interactions, Protein Purifications

Preferred Skills:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities.

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 salary range for this role is

$194,100.00 - $305,600.00

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.

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

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

09/11/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.