Senior Scientist, Laboratory Automation

Job Description

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and consumer health products, as well as animal health products. Today, we are building a new kind of healthcare company – one that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us. Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity and teamwork of people like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement and teamwork. As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist with a strong laboratory automation skill set to join the Translational Sciences and Outsourcing group at West Point, PA in the area of automation. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with experience in advanced analytical method design using automation and operational support of bioanalytical labs conducting bioanalysis of biotherapeutics in regulated drug development studies.  Collaboration, innovation, teamwork, and accountability are highly valued within our team. The successful candidate will play a key role in designing, planning, and utilizing automation methods during method development, validation, and sample analysis of bioanalytical assays for our Company’s pipeline.

Main Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Assist in establishing and managing bioanalytical lab operations, including lab automation, analytical instrumentation, and data handling

• Contribute to the development, validation and implementation of novel automated workflows

• Work collaboratively with department members to operate and troubleshoot automated laboratory equipment and systems in support of various bioanalytical assays within the pipeline

• Manage data integrity through automated processes

• Support timely delivery of high-quality quantitative data to cross-functional collaborators for bioanalytical analysis

• Collaborate to identify, evaluate, and recommend novel and cutting-edge automation and assay strategies to drive our development programs, including machine learning and artificial intelligence

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s (with 7 years), Master’s (with 4 years) or Ph.D. in Engineering, Automated Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences or related discipline and relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise operating various automation platforms (e.g. Hamilton, Tecan, Biomek) to perform method development and sample testing of preclinical and clinical assays

• Experience in development and execution of quantitative and qualitative bioanalytical assays (e.g. ELISA, mass spectrometry)

• Ability to follow procedures and thoroughly document experiments

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Self-starter with ability to work independently

• Capable of working efficiently and multitasking in a fast-paced environment

• Ability to re-prioritize workload to support team based on immediate need

• Emphasizes a team-based approach and is dedicated to collaborative and harmonious work with others

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience with liquid handlers, preferably with Hamilton

• Experience with scripting/programing in one or more of the following:  C#, python, JavaScript, R, R-shiny or Web development

• Experience with Laboratory equipment integration

• Experience with AI/ML techniques and how to apply them to various robotic applications

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Analytical Instrumentation, Automation, Bioanalytical Assays, Biochemistry, Clinical Assays, Laboratory Automation, Laboratory Operations, Mass Spectrometry (MS), Qualitative Analysis, Quantitative Assay, Robotic Liquid Handlers

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

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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

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

$114,700.00 - $180,500.00

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/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

NA

Job Posting End Date:

01/9/2026

*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.