Senior Scientist - Animal Health

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Scientist – Downstream Process Development

Position Summary:

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Senior Scientist to join our Monoclonal Antibody Research Group. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of downstream process unit operations and hands-on experience with chromatography systems such as AKTA. This role requires a PhD or 5+ years of industry experience in the relevant field, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to work with external partners..

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and optimization of the downstream processes for the purification of monoclonal antibodies or related antibody products.

• Design and execute experiments to evaluate and improve process performance.

• Utilize chromatography systems (e.g., AKTA and Unicorn software) and other purification techniques to achieve the desired purity and yield.

• Develop and implement robust and scalable processes for technology transfer to external partners or internal manufacturing.

• Process and produce materials at bench or pilot scale to support pre-clinical and clinical studies.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including cell line development, upstream, analytical, formulation, clinical, regulatory, sourcing and manufacturing.

• Engage with external partners and stakeholders to ensure alignment and successful project execution and deliverables.

• Conduct root cause analysis and assay optimization individually or in a group setting

• Manage and leverage the resources within the team and department to ensure on-time delivery of project timeline and milestones.

• Stay informed of external advances and technologies for continuous improvement of the process and expansion of capabilities.

• Provide coaching or assistance to other team members.

Qualifications:

Education:

Master's degree in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, with minimum 5 years of industry experience in downstream process development.....OR PhD in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field

Required Experience and Skills:

• Deep understanding of each unit operation in the downstream process, including chromatography, filtration, and ultrafiltration/diafiltration.

• Broad knowledge and understanding of the interaction of the downstream process with product quality including the purity, impurity and potency.

• Hands-on experience with AKTA or similar chromatography systems.

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot and optimize processes.

• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.

• Proven track record of successful process development and technology transfer in the industry setting.

 

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Knowledge and experience with different recombinant protein expression and purification system at industry scale.

• Knowledge and experience in recombinant protein developability and manufacturability assessment.

• Knowledge in process scale up, scale down, process characterization, qualification and validation.

• Knowledge and experience using DOE approach in process development.

• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and regulatory guidelines (e.g., FDA, EMA).

• Experience working with external partners and managing collaborative projects.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Assay Development, Biochemical Analysis, Biochemical Assays, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Chromatography, Detail-Oriented, Drug Target Identification, Flow Cytometry, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Immunoassays, Immunochemistry, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Monoclonal Antibodies, Personal Initiative, Polyclonal Antibody Production, Production Process Development, Protein Expression, Protein Purifications, Teamwork

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$117,000.00 - $184,200.00

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:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

03/2/2026

*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.