Senior Scientist, Analytical R&D

MSD; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) retirement benefits

Job summary

MSD is seeking a Senior Scientist in Analytical Enabling Capabilities to join the Vaccine Discovery Analytical Research team in West Point, PA. You will lead assay development and apply state-of-the-art analytical techniques to characterize vaccines across protein, subunit, and live virus platforms.

The role demands strong communication, independence, and collaboration within a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment, with opportunities to influence process development and technology

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s with 4+ years in chemistry or related field.
• Experience with separations (UPLC/HPLC/CE) and protein characterization.
• Strong analytical problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to lead assay development and multi-task projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead assay development and analytical method development for vaccine programs.
• Drive scientific contributions at program level and support product teams.
• Characterize vaccines across platforms and support process/formulation development.
• Provide technical guidance, evaluate new technologies, and drive innovations.

Skills

Analytical Assays

Analytical Method Development

Biochemical Assays

Biophysical Characterization

Cell-Based Assays

Chemistry

Independent Thinking

Laboratory Instrumentation

Research Programs

Technical Writing

Scientific Research

Education

PhD

MS + 4+ yrs industry

BS + 6+ yrs

Tools

UPLC

HPLC

CE

NMR

MS

SPR

ITC

MALS

Job description

## Senior Scientist, Analytical R&DApply: Not Applicable: USA - Pennsylvania - West Point: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: September 29, 2026 (13 days left to apply): R417703**Job Description**Analytical Enabling Capabilities is seeking a Senior Scientist to join our Vaccine Discovery Analytical Research team located in West Point, PA. In this role, an individual will work with a team of scientists to conduct state-of-the-art analytical techniques, including separations (such as HPLC, UPLC, AF4, electrophoresis, and CE), spectroscopic techniques (NMR, MS, UV-VIS, IR, MALS, and Fluorescence), and classical wet chemistry techniques. The individual should also have in-depth separations knowledge to facilitate vaccine characterization and quality control for a number of vaccine platforms, such as protein, subunit and live virus vaccines. The responsibilities of this role will be to lead assay development, drive scientific contributions at program levels, and engage with product teams to characterize vaccines supporting process development, formulation development, vaccine characterization, and method and transfers. The incumbent must have strong analytical capabilities, communication skills, demonstrated scientific knowledge, and strong presentation skills. The candidate must be able to prioritize and work in collaborative manner in a fast-paced, integrated, multidisciplinary team environment. Additional responsibilities include providing technical guidance to other scientists, evaluating new technologies, and driving innovations to influence trends in industry. **Education Minimum Requirement:*** PhD or a Master's degree with 4+ years industry, OR a Bachelor's degree with 6+ year experience in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry, Structural Biology or a closely related field.**Required Experience and Skills:*** In-depth knowledge and understanding of chemistry and separations (UPLC, HPLC, CE, and electrophoresis).* Experience with protein characterization and protein interactions (Electrophoresis, SPR, ITC, MALS).* Ability to troubleshoot technical issues related to separation methodology.* Independent analytical problem-solving capabilities.* Strong verbal & written communication skills.* Capable of multi-tasking and managing multiple projects.* Motivated to learn new skills, willingness to take on new challenges, and scientific curiosity.**Preferred Experience and Skills:*** Experience working on vaccine research and/or development* Experience with assay robustness evaluation.* Solid computer skills and ability to script analytical analysis workbooks* Experienced with automated laboratory instrumentation, and* Experience with biophysical methodologies**Required Skills:**Analytical Assays, Analytical Method Development, Biochemical Assays, Biophysical Characterization, Cell-Based Assays, Chemistry, Independent Thinking, Laboratory Instrumentation, Research Programs, Scientific Research, Technical Writing, Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC)**Preferred Skills:**Current Employees apply HERECurrent Contingent Workers apply HERE**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.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 RightsEEOC GINA SupplementWe 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 ActsThe salary range for this role is$117,000.00 - $184,200.00This 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.You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.**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:**Not Indicated**Valid Driving License:**No**Hazardous Material(s):**N/A**Job Posting End Date:**09/29/2026