Merck KGaA Posted October 21, 2026

Scientist 2

Carlsbad, California, 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:

MilliporeSigma is seeking a skilled and motivated Analytical Scientist with expertise in validation of analytical methods to support a Viral Vector CDMO Facility in Carlsbad, CA . The successful candidate will conduct advanced analytical analyses, transfer and validate analytical methods to support all Phases of GMP Viral Vector client programs and ensures the accuracy and reliability of test results. The Quality Scientist position, like all positions at MilliporeSigma, will have a willingness to contribute to the overall success of the company by assisting in many areas beyond specific job duties. You will be an analytical science leader specializing in cGMP biologics testing, method validation and transfer, and reliable laboratory quality systems across assays such as qPCR, ddPCR, HPLC, CE-SDS, ELISA, and flow cytometry. You turn complex data and investigations into clear, evidence-based decisions while strengthening compliance, documentation, and inspection readiness. You mentor and collaborate across teams to foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Perform advanced cGMP analytical testing using qPCR, ddPCR, HPLC, CE-SDS, ELISA , and Flow Cytometry while ensuring data accuracy and quality.

Lead method qualification, validation, and transfer activities across internal and external sites.

Author, and review SOPs, work instructions, protocols, validation reports, and method-transfer documentation.

Design and execute analytical studies, review and trend data, interpret results, and present actionable recommendations.

Investigate Invalid, OOS and OOT results, applying root-cause analysis and critical thinking to identify corrective actions.

Maintain, troubleshoot, qualify, and verify laboratory instruments while supporting calibration and preventive-maintenance programs.

Serve as a technical SME during client discussions, audits, and inspections while ensuring compliance with cGMP, regulatory requirements, and ICH guidelines.

Train and mentor junior scientists, collaborate cross-functionally, drive continuous improvement, and promote a culture of safety, quality, and knowledge sharing.

Physical Attributes:

Work in analytical testing lab.

Bend, stoop, squat, crawl, kneel, climb, or reach overhead.

Wear required PPE such as safety glasses, gloves, masks, and close-toed shoes.

Who You Are 

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or other life sciences discipline

4+ years leadership experience

 

Preferred Qualifications:

Capability to drive strategic improvements, and track record of mentoring multiple levels.

Knowledge and technical expertise with biologics analytical techniques, method validation, and assay testing.

Academic or industry-based background in Virology.

Strong critical and analytical thinking skills for effective problem-solving and outcome improvement.

Experience mentoring and leading junior associates.

Knowledge of cGMP manufacturing and quality systems within an FDA-regulated environment and ICH quality guidelines.

Proficiency in analytical techniques (e.g., ELISA, HPLC/UPLC, qPCR/ddPCR, spectroscopy, cell-based assays); method validation/transfer; data trending and statistics; instrument maintenance; basic programming or data analysis tools a plus.

Knowledge of cGMP, ICH guidelines, and QA/QC systems; experience with regulatory submissions and deviations/CAPAs.

Excellent scientific communication (written and oral), problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability, and mentoring ability.

Biologics/Virology background; experience with microbial testing, QA release testing, and GMP documentation

 

Pay Range for this position: $77,600-$116,400 per year.

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. For more information click here .

RSREMD

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
Quality
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Carlsbad, California, United States
Employment type
FULL_TIME

How this role compares

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

We currently track 1523 comparable Quality roles across 149 biopharma companies.

1523Comparable roles tracked
1325Currently active
149Companies hiring similar roles
53Countries represented

Salary context

247 of 1523 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 $77,600/yr – $116,400/yr
Lowest disclosed · QA - Stat Sort Specialist · Lilly $18/hr – $35/hr (≈ $37,482–$72,592/yr)
Highest disclosed · VP, Quality Assurance · City Therapeutics $340,000/yr – $360,000/yr
Peer group range $55,037 – $350,000 (median $128,003)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 1523 comparable roles

United States607
Ireland86
France76
Germany76
China67
Belgium52

+ 47 more countries

Seniority mix

690 of 1523 peers have a known seniority level

Manager198
Senior179
Intern/Fellow/Postdoc94
Associate73
Associate Director40
Principal38
Director33
Senior Director28
Executive/VP7

Therapeutic area mix

1 of 1523 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Vaccines & Infectious Disease1

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
Lilly Lebanon, Indiana, United States of America Principal
Same function Same country
40%similar
Lilly Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America Associate
Same function Same country
40%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Director
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40%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Manager
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40%similar
Gilead Sciences, Inc. La Verne, United States
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40%similar
Gilead Sciences, Inc. La Verne, United States Senior
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Notify me about similar jobs

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Or follow a whole field: get every new Quality 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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Lilly · Lebanon, Indiana, United States of America · Principal
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
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AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Manager
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
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Gilead Sciences, Inc. · Foster City, United States · Manager
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
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Principal QA Validation Specialist, Fill Finish
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc (USA) · Renss, United States · Principal
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
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.