Principal Scientist, Small Molecule Analytical Chemistry

MSD Malaysia; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 273,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid holidays

Vacation

Sick days

Job summary

Merck seeks a Principal Scientist to lead the Analytical Commercialization Technology group at Rahway, NJ and West Point, PA, driving late-stage small molecule drug product development in a cGMP environment.

You will mentor scientists, oversee method development and validation, contribute to regulatory submissions, and collaborate across regulatory, research, and manufacturing teams to deliver robust drug products.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS with extensive pharmaceutical development experience in small molecules.
• Strong background with UHPLC/HPLC, dissolution, GC, UV/IR, and Karl Fischer.
• Experience with method development and validation for regulatory submissions.
• Proven ability to author CTD sections for IND/NDA/MAA submissions.
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team in analytical method development and validation in a cGMP environment.
• Oversee drug product testing, characterization, stability studies, and specification development.
• Support manufacturing scale-up and validation activities.
• Prepare CMC documents for global regulatory submissions and address questions.
• Collaborate with regulatory, research, and manufacturing groups across functions.
• Coordinate drug product development and drive progress on multiple projects.
• Mentor scientists and build analytical capabilities within the organization.

Skills

Academic Presentations

Bioconjugation

Computational Chemistry

Creativity

Data Analysis

High-Throughput Experimentation

Organic Synthesis

Professional Networking

Project Leadership

Research Proposal Development

Scientific Leadership

Scientific Literature Search

Strategic Thinking

Structure Based Drug Design

Synthetic Chemistry

Education

PhD in Analytical Chemistry or related discipline

MS in Analytical Chemistry or related discipline

Tools

UHPLC/HPLC

Dissolution

GC

UV spectroscopy

IR spectroscopy

Karl Fischer titration

LC/MS

GC/MS

Job description

Job Description

We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. At our company, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals.

We are seeking a Principal Scientist to join our Analytical Commercialization Technology (ACT) group within Analytical Chemistry in Development and Supply (ACDS) at our Rahway, NJ and WestPoint, PA sites. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a highly collaborative team of scientists utilizing innovative analytical characterization technologies to drive late-stage small molecule pharmaceutical drug product development and commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of scientists in analytical method development and validation, drug product testing, and analytical investigations in a cGMP environment.
• Oversee drug product and manufacturing process characterization, stability studies, and specification development.
• Support manufacturing process scale-up and validation.
• Prepare Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) documents for global regulatory submissions and respond to regulatory questions.
• Collaborate effectively with technical, regulatory, research, and manufacturing groups.
• Coordinate drug product development efforts and lead progress for multiple projects.
• Mentor other scientists and build/maintain the scientific capabilities of our organization.

Qualifications

• PhD in Analytical Chemistry or related discipline with seven or more (7+) years of relevant small molecule pharmaceutical development experience; OR MS with ten or more (10+) years.
• Strong background and extensive hands-on experience with common analytical techniques such as Ultrahigh/High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC/HPLC), Dissolution, Gas Chromatography, Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and Karl Fischer titration.
• Extensive experience with method development and validation.
• Significant experience authoring relevant CTD sections of regulatory submissions (IND, NDA, MAA, JNDA, etc.).
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated creativity, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions.
• Experience in mentoring and leading teams.
• Significant experience in analytical technology transfers.
• Demonstrated effective planning and execution of regulatory strategies.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with hyphenated analytical techniques such as LC/MS and GC/MS with proven ability in troubleshooting these methodologies.

Required Skills

• Academic Presentations
• Bioconjugation
• Computational Chemistry
• Creativity
• Data Analysis
• High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE)
• Organic Synthesis
• Professional Networking
• Project Leadership
• Research Proposal Development
• Scientific Leadership
• Scientific Literature Search
• Strategic Thinking
• Structure Based Drug Design
• Synthetic Chemistry

We are 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 $173,200.00 - $272,600.00. 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.

Employee Status: Regular Relocation: Domestic 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: 10/16/2026

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.