Senior Scientist, Antibody Generation & Automation

Socket.dev; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 131,000 - 207,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision care

401(k)

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in South San Francisco seeks a Senior Scientist to advance antibody discovery and automation in the Molecular Discovery group.

You will lead automated liquid handling and HTS workflows, collaborate with cross‑functional teams, and drive high‑throughput screening for novel biologics development. This role requires hands‑on lab experience, programming skills, and strong project planning in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with automated liquid handling platforms and robotic arms.
• Program, configure, and troubleshoot methods using liquid handler software.
• Hands‑on experience with ELISA and flow cytometry assays.
• Experience planning experiments, troubleshooting, and multi-tasking in a lab.
• Experience training users on automated methods.
• Experience overseeing daily lab operations and EHS compliance.

Responsibilities

• Execute automated liquid handling to support routine workflows.
• Use programming skills to support data processing and workflow automation.
• Optimize automated methods for high‑throughput antibody screening and characterization.
• Support expansion of HTS platforms, assay design, and new technologies.
• Perform bioassay screening and troubleshoot experimental design and instrumentation.
• Analyze results and place data in scientific context via literature review.
• Perform cell culture to support characterization of antibodies.
• Document and report data, including presentations for team meetings.
• Work on multiple projects in a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary team.
• Manage project priorities and deliverables across workstreams.
• Communicate project status and outcomes to teams and stakeholders.
• Adhere to good laboratory practices and safety standards.

Skills

Antibodies

Antibody Discovery

Automation

ELISA

Flow Cytometry

Laboratory Automation

Laboratory Robotics

Laboratory Techniques

Laboratory Technology

Liquid Handling

Robotic Liquid Handlers

Education

Bachelor's degree with 7+ years

Master’s degree with 4+ years

Ph.D. in a relevant biological science field

Tools

Hamilton Microlab STAR

Job description

Job Description

We are recruiting a Senior Scientist to support antibody generation and automation in our Molecular Discovery group located in South San Francisco.

Key Responsibilities:

• Execute automated liquid handling processesto support routine lab workflows, including protein normalization, serial dilution, cherry picking, and NGS library preparation.

• Use programming or scripting skills (e.g., Python, SQL, R) to support data processing, workflow automation, or instrument integration.

• Optimize, implement, and validate automated methodsfor high‑throughput antibody screening and characterization to assess binding and functional attributes.

• Support the expansion ofhigh‑throughput screening (HTS) platforms, assay design, and the evaluation and integration of novel technologies.

• Perform general laboratory bioassay screening competently and independently, modifying and troubleshooting experimental design, methods, and instrumentation to meet evolving project needs.

• Independently analyze and interpret experimental results, placing data in proper scientific context through review of relevant literature.

• Perform cell culture of a variety types of cells to support characterization of antibodies and related biologics.

• Document, summarize, and report data clearly and accurately, including preparation of presentations for team and project meetings.

• Work on multiple projects in a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary team environment, collaborating effectively with cross‑functional partners.

• Manage project priorities, timelines, and deliverables across multiple workstreams, ensuring clear alignment with project goals and stakeholder expectations.

• Communicate project status, risks, next steps, automated assay development progress, troubleshooting outcomes, and key project data proactively through presentations and updates to project teams, automation working groups, group meetings, project leads, and cross‑functional partners to support timely decision‑making.

• Adhere to good laboratory practices, maintain accurate records, and ensure compliance with relevant safety and quality standards.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Bachelor's (with 7+ years), Master’s (with 4+ years) or Ph.D. in a relevant biological science field and relevant experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Proven experience withautomated liquid handling platforms(e.g., Hamilton Microlab STAR) and robotic arms or similar automation technologies.
• Capability to program, configure, and troubleshoot methods using liquid handler software to support automated workflow development and optimization.
• Strong, hands‑on experience with assays, such as ELISA and flow cytometry/FACS.
• Experience independently planning experiments, troubleshooting, and managing multiple concurrent laboratory tasks or projects.
• Experience training laboratory users on the execution of automated methods.
• Experience overseeing daily laboratory operations, including EHS compliance, best practices, and related operational systems.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Prior hands‑on experience contributing to the evaluation, development, or implementation of innovative technologies that enable de novo antibody discovery workflows, such as microfluidics-based platforms, genetic or mRNA immunization approaches, single-cell screening, or other high‑throughput discovery technologies.
• Working knowledge of antibody discovery and characterization, protein engineering, and biologics modality design, with demonstrated ability to apply scientific understanding to support laboratory automation, assay development, and high-throughput discovery workflows.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Antibodies, Antibody Discovery, Automation, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Flow Cytometry, Laboratory Automation, Laboratory Robotics, Laboratory Techniques, Laboratory Technology, Liquid Handling, Robotic Liquid Handlers

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:

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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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The salary range for this role is

$131,400.00 - $206,800.00

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.

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/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

09/24/2026

*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.