Merck KGaA Posted November 3, 2026

Scientist 1 - Custom Validation Virology

Rockville, Maryland, United States FULL_TIME
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Merck KGaA is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

Work Your Magic with us!  Start your next chapter and join MilliporeSigma.

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

Your Role:

At MilliporeSigma, as the Scientist 1 – Custom Validation Virology, your activities will support assay development through commercial application of new and innovative service offerings within the biosafety testing space. You are responsible for the scientific integrity of technical work performed in the laboratory, and are required to make scientific observations, maintain detailed workbooks/documentation, and ensure all documentation fulfills generally accepted professional/industry standards.

Performs testing in accordance with SOPs and regulations (cGMP and GLP)

Act as subject matter expert (SME) for specific defined area(s) of BioReliance business.

Applies laboratory techniques and skills to complete experiments designed to address a variety of specific problems.

Independently applies basic scientific principles in the design of experiments and the development of assays.

For GLP studies, acts as Study Director.

Maintains complete and comprehensive records for study integrity.

Makes detailed observations, documents result and performs data analysis.

Operates and maintains lab equipment as required by SOPs and testing procedures.

Utilizes applicable computer programs during testing and routine tasks (i.e. Word, Excel, Oracle, LIMS, BRIQS, etc.).

Utilizes problem solving/ trouble shooting skills.

Communicates deviations/ events, progress and interim results to Study Management.

Leads the completion of event records.

Liaise with Quality Assurance and appropriate cross-functional departmental areas to close the events and corrective actions identified during GxP laboratory testing.

Maintains a working knowledge of lab procedures and assays.

Creates/ revises SOPs, laboratory records and other related documentation as assigned.

Writes technical reports for internal use and collaborates on papers for external use.

Performs training of laboratory personnel as needed/ assigned.

Contribute ideas and suggestions to improve standard laboratory techniques, protocols, processes, and equipment.

Acts as key driver/ champion on project teams.

Complies with company health and safety regulations and procedures

Who You Are:

Minimum Qualifications:

Ph.D. in a scientific field (e.g., Biology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, etc.) with 1 + years of working experience in laboratory setting -OR-

Master’s degree in a scientific field (e.g., Biology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, etc.) with 2+ years of working experience in a laboratory setting -OR-

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field (e.g., Biology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, etc.) with 5+ years of working experience in a laboratory setting

High school diploma or GED with 9+ years of experience in a laboratory setting

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Preferred Qualifications:

Experience and knowledge and laboratory experience in executing and overseeing technical projects and/or related studies in Virology, specifically utilizing QPCR, cell culture techniques, and viral agents

Previous experience working in GMP/GLP environment

Highly technically competent and is considered a scientific leader in a particular scientific area

Excellent oral and written communication skills and experience with presentations/seminars, oversight of projects, implementation of new services, etc.

Excellent time management skills

Highly collaborative as well as independent

Demonstrates a high level of initiative

Intermediate level in Microsoft office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)

Pay Range for this position - $75,100 – 112,600

Our ranges are derived from several sources, and largely reliant on relevant industry market data. Should we decide to make an offer, we will consider several factors, including but not limited to your location, skills, experience, career level, and other job-related factors.  This role may offer the following benefits: medical, vision, and dental insurance; life insurance; disability insurance; a 401(k) matching program; paid time off; and paid holidays; among other employee benefits. This role may also be eligible for short-term or long-term incentive compensation, including, but not limited to, cash bonuses.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!

Job details

Seniority
Not listed
Function
Manufacturing & CMC
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Employment type
FULL_TIME

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Manufacturing & CMC role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 3428 comparable Manufacturing & CMC roles across 175 biopharma companies.

3428Comparable roles tracked
3174Currently active
175Companies hiring similar roles
61Countries represented

Salary context

812 of 3428 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function. This posting doesn't list a seniority level, so peers aren't narrowed by seniority either -- the range below may span more levels than usual.

This roleSubject $75,100/yr – $112,600/yr
Lowest disclosed · Operator – Plant Utilities · Lilly $13/hr – $28/hr (≈ $26,998–$58,302/yr)
Highest disclosed · Head of Analytical Development · ModernaTX, Inc. $272,200/yr – $490,100/yr
Peer group range $42,650 – $381,150 (median $127,500)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 3428 comparable roles

United States1570
Germany211
India155
France149
Ireland129
China125

+ 55 more countries

Seniority mix

1516 of 3428 peers have a known seniority level

Senior408
Manager359
Intern/Fellow/Postdoc208
Associate149
Principal129
Associate Director105
Director104
Senior Director48
Executive/VP6

Therapeutic area mix

22 of 3428 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Vaccines & Infectious Disease13
Rare Disease3
Dermatology & Aesthetics2
Oncology2
Immunology1
Respiratory1

Similar opportunities

The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.

40%similar
40%similar
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40%similar
Lilly Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America Associate
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40%similar
Merck West Point, Pennsylvania, United States of America Principal
Same function Same country
40%similar
Merck West Point, Pennsylvania, United States Intern/Fellow/Postdoc
Same function Same country
40%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Associate Director
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Notify me about similar jobs

Get an email when we spot other openings like this one – same job function, comparable seniority, roles you'd actually want to see.

Or follow a whole field: get every new Manufacturing & CMC job in the United States, and choose locations and companies.

How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

40%
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Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
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AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Senior
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Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.