Principal Scientist – Multiscale Separations Team Lead

Merck•Rahway, NJ

6d•$156,900 - $247,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Scientist will provide scientific leadership and operational oversight for purification and analytical chromatography capabilities supporting development pipeline programs across multiple modalities, including small molecules, peptides, antibody-drug conjugates, adjuvants, biologics, and other molecular entities. The role is part of the Separations Sciences team within the Analytical Enabling Capabilities Organization in Rahway, New Jersey. The position requires hands-on technical expertise in HPLC using multiple retention mechanisms and in SFC, as well as experience supporting purification workflows such as targeted isolation for structure-activity relationship and structural elucidation studies; target enrichment for impurity characterization, identification, and structure-function characterization; and chiral and achiral separations for API control strategy and GMP toxicology deliveries. The role combines laboratory leadership, scientific expertise, capability development, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration to provide high-quality purification and analytical support to project teams. The Principal Scientist will advance Separation Sciences capabilities by implementing innovative technologies, developing scientific talent, optimizing existing workflows, establishing new workflows for emerging pipeline opportunities, and partnering with colleagues in process chemistry, discovery process chemistry, and adjacent functions. The individual will serve as a recognized subject matter expert and contribute to project, departmental, and capability strategies. The role also includes laboratory operations and infrastructure leadership, including instrumentation strategy, capital planning, automation and digital solutions, and collaboration with Facilities, Procurement, Engineering, IT, and external vendors. The scientist will maintain awareness of emerging technologies and scientific advances and contribute to the company's scientific reputation through publications, presentations, collaborations, and external engagement.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline and at least 8 years of relevant industrial experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or related drug development and research; alternatively, an M.S. in one of these fields and 10–12 years of relevant industrial experience in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or related drug discovery research environment.
Extensive experience in chromatographic purification and analytical separations supporting drug development programs.
Expertise in HPLC, uHPLC, LCMS, SFC, and preparative chromatography technologies.
Working knowledge of orthogonal detection technologies, including PDA, multi-angle light scattering, and charged aerosol detection.
Hands-on experience delivering purification solutions across scales from micrograms to kilograms, translating from early-stage experimentation through larger-scale execution.
Experience supporting multiple therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, peptides, adjuvants, and other emerging modalities.
Ability to provide scientific leadership, influence technical direction, and deliver results through a laboratory-based scientific capability.
Experience implementing new technologies, laboratory informatics platforms, LIMS solutions, automation-enabled purification workflows, digital workflows, instrumentation, and process improvements.
Experience mentoring and developing scientific staff.
Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.
Required skills include analytical method development, assay development, bioanalytical analysis, chromatographic techniques, clinical judgment, cross-functional teamwork, dosage forms, ethical compliance, liquid chromatography, matrix management, mentoring staff, method validation, personal initiative, stability testing, and technical writing.

Nice To Haves

Cross-functional and cross-site scientific leadership, capability deployment, technology transfer, and successful collaboration across purification networks, including internal and external CDMOs, scientific disciplines, and research organizations.
Experience in mass spectrometry and its application in MS-directed chromatographic purification.
Experience partnering with IT, Informatics, Automation, Facilities, Procurement, and external vendors to develop and advance scientific capabilities.
Experience with laboratory capital planning, laboratory build-out, infrastructure strategy, or management of scientific instrumentation portfolios.
Publications, presentations, patents, or other evidence of external scientific engagement and professional visibility.
Pharmaceutical cGMP experience.

Responsibilities

Provide scientific leadership and contribute to purification and analytical activities that enable the development pipeline.
Serve as a subject matter expert in purification and separation sciences, including chromatographic purification, analytical separations, impurity isolation, and related technologies.
Guide the resolution of complex scientific and operational challenges.
Promote scientific excellence, operational efficiency, safety, and quality in laboratory operations.
Partner with DSCS digital technologies to implement innovative technologies, laboratory informatics platforms, automation-enabled purification workflows, and digital capabilities.
Establish best practices, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and contribute to capability roadmaps aligned with CMC needs.
Partner with the Director of Separation Sciences to identify, recruit, mentor, and develop scientists and laboratory staff.
Support employee development, succession planning, and a collaborative, inclusive, high-performing environment.
Collaborate with Process Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Analytical Sciences, Automation, Informatics, IT, and other research functions to support projects and capability development.
Provide purification and analytical expertise to project teams and contribute to project strategy and departmental initiatives.
Partner in laboratory operations, instrumentation strategy, capital planning, and implementation of automation and digital solutions.
Work with Facilities, Procurement, Engineering, IT, and external vendors to support reliable laboratory operations, regulatory compliance, and capability advancement.
Monitor emerging technologies and scientific advances in separation sciences and chromatography.
Contribute to external scientific engagement through publications, presentations, collaborations, and other professional activities.