Sr. Specialist, Decision Intelligence (m/f/d)

Merck; West Point (PA); Hybrid; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in the United States is seeking a Senior Specialist, Decision Intelligence to translate business problems into mathematical models, build analytics, and enable data-driven decisions across DSCS. You will develop forecasting, simulations, and data pipelines and contribute to AI-enabled decision workflows.

The role requires 3+ years in a technical field, strong Python and ML experience, and collaboration across teams.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in data science, operations research, data engineering or a related highly technical role.
• Pharmaceutical development and/or clinical supply chain experience strongly preferred.
• Understanding of CMC development across modalities preferred.

Responsibilities

• Translate business processes into mathematical representations and technical specifications for models and data products.
• Build analytics integrated with WebApps/Agents to streamline user interaction.
• Develop probabilistic forecasting and stochastic optimization for uncertain decisions.
• Define and track KPIs and contribute to the DDT Strategic Roadmap.
• Develop scalable data pipelines using Databricks, Dataverse and SQL.

Skills

Python

Machine learning

Databricks

MLOps

GitHub

VS Code

Copilot Studio

Agentic AI

SQL

Data pipelines

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Databricks

Dataverse

Copilot Studio

Job description

Job Description

Position Overview - Basic Functions & Responsibility: Digital is the multiplier that will allow Development Sciences and Clinical Supply (DSCS) to deliver better experiments faster, efficient filing and launch, more robust supply chains and higher-confidence decisions across the portfolio. The DSCS Digital Technologies (DDT) organization is tasked with the mission to pioneer and deploy innovative digital technologies that drive the acquisition, automation and utilization of data to enhance insights, efficiency, and quality of DSCS processes and methods.

The DSCS Digital Technologies (DDT) organization within our Research Team is accountable for driving the digital transformation, data architecture, and technology solutions that enable execution and operations within the DSCS organization.

The Senior Specialist, Decision Intelligence is a technical role responsible for developing advanced analytics and operations research capabilities to enable data-driven decision making and inform DSCS business operations. This role will focus on modeling, simulation and optimization frameworks to solve complex business problems.

The Senior Specialist, Decision Intelligence Will

• Support the translation of business problems into mathematical models for business process simulation and optimization.
• Build robust and sustainable analytics that can be seamlessly integrated with WebApps and/or Agents to streamline user interaction.
• Develop and implement probabilistic forecasting and stochastic optimization techniques to enable strategic decision making given uncertainty.
• Serve as a business analyst to support business cases for new digital capabilities. Define and track KPIs aligned with the value proposition for digital transformation within DSCS.
• Contribute to designing, building, and implementing modern data foundations and pipelines.
• Contribute to the development of custom web applications (WebApps) that allow business users to seamlessly interact with data products and model outputs.
• Work strategically across the DSCS Digital Technologies team to streamline routine work through advanced automation and AI tools.
• Contribute to the advancement of the DDT Decision Intelligence Strategic Roadmap, developing reusable components that support decision intelligence capabilities across business domains.

Primary Activities

• Requirements Translation: Translate business processes and/or stakeholder requirements into accurate mathematical representations and technical specifications for corresponding models, agents and data products.
• Decision Intelligence Strategy: Translate data and model outputs into clear, concise and interpretable business insights. Collaborate with Digital Operations Change Management and functional area SMEs to define and implement AI-enabled decision making processes across DSCS.
• Business case development: In collaboration with DSCS SMEs, develop the business case and articulate the value proposition for new digital capabilities.
• Performance monitoring: Define and track KPIs to monitor the value realized through digital transformation within the DSCS organization.
• Modeling & Simulation: Develop mathematical models to simulate and/or optimize business processes using techniques including but not limited to machine learning, discrete event simulation and optimization.
• Data Engineering: In collaboration with the Digital Operations Shared Services team, build and optimize scalable data pipelines leveraging Databricks, Python, Dataverse, and advanced SQL. Transform raw data into contextualized, AI-ready data products.
• Agentic AI: In collaboration with Agentic Intelligence team, test and implement agentic AI workflows using tools like Copilot Studio to automate decision-making processes and generate proactive business insights.
• Web Application Development: In collaboration with Digital Operations Shared Services team, develop and deploy user-friendly WebApps to support interaction with data and analytics.
• Development & Code Management: Utilize modern development environments (VS Code) and AI coding assistants (Cline) alongside GitHub for robust version control of scripts, applications, and data models to ensure code quality.
• Systems Architecture: Work closely with system architects to ensure scalable, secure, and efficient DevOps.
• Documentation & Enablement: Document processes, code, mathematical models, data models, and system architectures; provide training and technical support to end-users as new digital capabilities are rolled out.

Required Skills And Qualifications

• Experience: 3+ years in data science, operations research, data engineering or a related highly technical role.
• Pharmaceutical development and/or clinical supply chain experience strongly preferred. Understanding of CMC development across modalities (ie small molecule, large molecule, vaccine) preferred.
• Core Technical Stack: Strong expertise in Python. Experience building and deploying advanced machine learning models. Databricks and MLOps experience preferred.
• Business Analysis: Proven track record of gathering complex requirements from non-technical stakeholders and translating them into actionable, technical roadmaps.
• Agentic AI & Automation: Familiarity with or strong interest in Agentic AI and integrating AI agents into workflows.
• DevOps & Developer Tools: Proven experience with GitHub for version control. Comfortable leveraging AI-assisted development tools like Cline. Proficiency working in VScode or other equivalent integrated development environment. Experience deploying apps or agents preferred.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to tackle complex business challenges and translate them into mathematical problem statements and corresponding technical solutions.
• Collaboration & Influence: Demonstrated ability to develop strong, trust-based relationships to execute priorities with a diverse group of technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Independence: Independent decision-making abilities with a proactive approach to delivering results.

Education And Skills

• Education: Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of experience in Engineering, Operations Research, Data Science, or comparable technical field

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

The salary range for the additional location (US) of this role is:
USD 117`000.00 - 184`200.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

Required Skills

Application Development, Business Analysis, Decision Management, Engineering Standards, GitHub, Industrial Engineering, Machine Learning (ML), Python (Programming Language), SQL Databases, Supply Chain Sourcing, User Documentation, Version Control, Version Control System, Workflow Automation

Employee Status

Regular

Relocation

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

Shift

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

N/A