Associate Principal Scientist, Oral Formulation Sciences

Job Description

Associate Principal Scientist Job Description:

Our company's Pharmaceutical Sciences & Clinical Supplies organization translates molecules to medicines, working from the discovery interface through registration stability manufacturing by designing, developing and scaling-up the formulation, device, and manufacturing process.  Driving drug product design from the bench top to the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing facilities, our Scientists use cutting edge science to transform drug delivery and manufacturing technology to positively impact patients.

The successful candidate will be a passionate scientist with strong academic fundamentals and a drive to develop new medicines to improve human health.  In this role, the individual will be responsible for leading the formulation development of new chemical entities as part of a matrix team from initial first in human formulations (suspensions, solutions, capsules, tablets) through final market formulation definition and manufacturing process robustness assessment.

Primary Responsibilities:

Lead development of new, innovative approaches for product development, generation of experimental designs, execution experimental plans and data analysis

Drives evaluation of new technologies and leads capability build to deploy them to pipeline assets

Collaborates effectively within and across functional areas and is a recognized subject matter expert in at least one area of drug delivery and/or drug product manufacturing technology.

The desired individual is someone who will bring knowledge and creativity to the position as well as have the discipline to drive results

Can independently execute formulation and process development activities using Design of Experiments for new chemical entities or life cycle management opportunities while also helping to coach others in a collaborative environment

Coordinate development activities with process chemistry, preformulation, analytical, and physical characterization groups

Leads project activities at external manufacturing sites

Facilitate manufacturing, packaging and release of clinical supplies for clinical studies, assist in scale up activities at pilot and commercial scale, and summarize results in technical reports and presentations

Enhance our Company's professional image and competitive advantage through patents, presentations, publications and professional activities and advance areas such as science and technology development, technical and business strategic improvements, business process innovations

Maintain awareness of relevant new and current technologies, capabilities, and effectively share this knowledge with others

Education Minimum Requirement:

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences or related discipline with a minimum of 4 years relevant drug product development experience.  B.S. or M.S. degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences or related discipline with minimum of 10 years relevant industrial experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

Prior experience leading formulation development (Lead Formulator) activities in matrix team environments to define a robust formulation and manufacturing process

Experience with conventional and novel drug product technologies that can be utilized to develop pipeline assets, including hands on experience to independently operate in a pilot plant as well as an in-depth understanding of the science to train others in the department

Scientific contributor with proven ability to identify and develop innovative ideas

Has broad knowledge of formulation science and in depth-knowledge in multiple areas, including core understanding of the drug development process

Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute and lead complex experiments and data analysis

Track record of working effectively with team-members of skill sets and backgrounds

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Experience and Skills:

Prior experience leading development projects at an enterprise level

Capable of mentoring individuals in a peer to peer fashion and as a technical mentor

Recognized as a subject matter expert in at least one drug delivery and/or manufacturing technology

Demonstrated ability to identify, fundamentally characterize and address manufacturing challenges through the development and optimization of novel production technologies.

Desire to build new capabilities through the evaluation of new technologies and hands-on optimization of existing technologies.

Demonstrated ability to apply the principles of physical/organic chemistry, physical pharmacy & materials science to solving practical pharmaceutical development problems

Breadth of experience in related functional areas, including: Pharmaceutical Operations, Analytical Sciences, and Commercialization

Required Skills:

Cell Line Development, Cell Line Development, Chemical Engineering, Design of Experiments (DOE), Detail-Oriented, Downstream Process Development, Drug Delivery, Drug Delivery Technology, Drug Development, Experimental Methods, Expression Vectors, External Manufacturing, Interpersonal Relationships, Leading Project Teams, Life Cycle Planning, Manufacturing Processes, Manufacturing Strategies, Manufacturing Technologies, Molecular Biology, Perform Testing, Pharmaceutical Formulations, Pharmaceutical Process Development, Pharmaceutical Process Engineering, Pharmaceutical Research, Physical Characterization {+ 6 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

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.  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 .

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

09/20/2026 *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.

Requisition ID:R412812