Associate Principal Scientist, Analytical R&D (GxP Supervisor 2nd Shift)

Role Summary

Join us and experience our culture firsthand - one of strong ethics & integrity, diversified experiences, exceptional science and a resounding passion for improving human health through innovative drug delivery technologies and predictive analytical tools. As part of our global team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

The Associate Principal Scientist will serve as the scientific and operational supervisor for a team of specialists and scientists in Rahway supporting various GMP analytical activities including cleaning verification, method validation, solvent release, and in-process testing for drug substance and drug product across the entirety of our non-sterile clinical portfolio during 2nd shift operations at the Rahway site. The role will also require hands-on analytical lab support to enable the pipeline.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as a scientific and operational supervisor for a team of specialists and scientists supporting cleaning verification, solvent release, and in-process testing for drug substance and drug product during 2nd shift operations.
• Support execution of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) analytical activities such cleaning verification, method validation and in-process testing.
• Document the execution, procedure, results, and conclusions of experiments in a detailed and organized manner following ALCOA+ principles.
• Ensure on time, right first-time analytical testing to enable clinical manufacture of drug substance and drug product.
• Provide technical and compliance oversight for lab investigations and deviations and to troubleshoot in the lab as necessary.
• Review and approval of GMP data, analytical reports, and SOPs.
• Ensure operational excellence and drive process improvements.
• Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders and partners such as Global Development Quality and Pharmaceutical Operations.
• Support internal and external compliance audit activities.

Education Minimum Requirements

• BS or MS in chemistry or related science with at least 7 years of industry experience with pharmaceutical drug substance and/or product development.
• Ph.D. in chemistry or related science with at least 3 years of industry experience with pharmaceutical drug substance and/or product development.

Required Experience and Skills

• Excellent scientific communication skills.
• Demonstrated creativity.
• Effective interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams to deliver high-quality results against firm deadlines.
• Ability to partner in a team environment with cross-functional interactions to drive results.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Prior experience managing a GMP analytical lab that supports cleaning verification.
• IPC, and solvent release.
• Prior experience with lab investigations/deviations and compliance audits is a plus.

#AR&D

Required Skills

Analytical Method Development, Analytical Testing, Assay Development, Biological Assay Development, Cell-Based Assays, Chromatographic Techniques, Cleaning Validations, Drug Development, High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Pharmaceutical Process Development, Process Analytical Technology (PAT), Protein Analysis, Regulatory Compliance Audits

Preferred Skills

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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.
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• 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 primary location for this posting is: USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Pay and benefits

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

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: Yes

Travel Requirements

• 10%
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable
• Shift: 2nd - Evening
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): n/a
• Job Posting End Date: 11/20/2026

Additional information

*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.