Senior Scientist, Reagent Technical Development and Operations (On-site)

MSD Malaysia; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays

Vacation

Compassionate and sick days

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in West Point, PA seeks a Senior Scientist to develop and implement large molecule critical reagent strategies across biologics and vaccines pipelines. You will lead cross‑functional analytical development efforts and interact with regulatory teams to drive lifecycle management of reagents.

The role requires leadership, strong analytical chemistry background, and ability to communicate with stakeholders. Exceptional written and oral communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• PhD in analytical chemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, virology, or related field.
• MS with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in Biopharmaceutical Industry.
• Bachelor’s with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in Biopharmaceutical Industry.
• Demonstrated project management skillset to oversee, prioritize, and deliver on critical reagents large molecule portfolio of projects.
• Experience with monitoring reagent/ assay performance and control for drifts in key quality attributes between and within reference standards, and analytical bridging studies.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with cross‑functionally in a team‑based environment, partnering and influencing in a professional and effective manner.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

Responsibilities

• Define, develop and implement large molecule critical reagent strategies.
• Oversee and analyze reagent qualification testing, documentation, and lifecycle management.
• Oversee both internally and externally sourced reagent development, production, and implementation to support the large molecule pipeline.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to support biologics development.
• Maintain accurate and detailed laboratory records.
• Contribute to the preparation of regulatory submissions and technical reports.
• Develop Critical Reagent strategies for program specific reagents to support our Company's Research Laboratories Large Molecule Development portfolio.
• Represent or provide technical oversight of team members on analytical and product development working groups.
• Collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment and provide technical input to enable team decisions.
• Author and review critical reagent documents including reagent development reports, technical summaries, and reagent qualification protocols.

Skills

Project management

Reagent performance monitoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Written & verbal communication

Education

PhD in analytical chemistry/molecular biology/virology

MS with 3+ years Biopharmaceutical Industry

Bachelor’s with 7+ years Biopharmaceutical Industry

Tools

Bioanalytical analysis

Chromatographic techniques

GMP operations

Job description

Job Description

Large Molecule Analytical (LMA) Cell-Based Sciences Department is seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist to join the Reagent Technical Development and Operations team in Cell-Based Sciences department in West Point, PA.

The qualified candidate will be responsible for developing critical reagent strategies for large molecules products across the biologics and vaccines pipeline.

This senior scientist role will partner with cross‑functional analytical development teams, regulatory and quality to deliver related Biological Critical Reagent strategies through the development lifecycle of a program.

The successful candidate is expected to provide scientific leadership, expertise, and creativity to solve complex project problems across the large molecule portfolio in developing critical reagents strategies.

Applicants must have effective organizational skills that enable support of multiple programs, have demonstrated excellent scientific expertise in analytical development, and have superior written and oral communications skills.

The candidate will be expected to effectively communicate with stakeholders in partner organizations and with management and governance teams.

In this role, the Senior Scientist will:

Primary Responsibilities

• Define, develop and implement large molecule critical reagent strategies.
• Oversee and analyze reagent qualification testing, documentation, and lifecycle management.
• Oversee both internally and externally sourced reagent development, production, and implementation to support the large molecule pipeline.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to support biologics development.
• Maintain accurate and detailed laboratory records.
• Contribute to the preparation of regulatory submissions and technical reports.
• Develop Critical Reagent strategies for program specific reagents to support our Company's Research Laboratories Large Molecule Development portfolio.
• Represent or provide technical oversight of team members on analytical and product development working groups.
• Collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment and provide technical input to enable team decisions.
• Author and review critical reagent documents including reagent development reports, technical summaries, and reagent qualification protocols.

Education Requirements

• Ph.D. in analytical chemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, virology, or related field.
• OR M.S. with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in Biopharmaceutical Industry.
• OR bachelor’s with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in Biopharmaceutical Industry.

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated project management skillset to oversee, prioritize, and deliver on critical reagents large molecule portfolio of projects.
• Experience with monitoring reagent/ assay performance and control for drifts in key quality attributes between and within reference standards, and analytical bridging studies.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with cross‑functionally in a team‑based environment, partnering and influencing in a professional and effective manner.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

Preferred Skills

• Bioanalytical Analysis
• Chromatographic Techniques
• GMP Operations

US and PuertoRico 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 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 $117,000.00 - $184,200.00

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.

• medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days

More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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: No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift: 1st - Day

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 08/18/2026

*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.

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.