Principal Scientist, Human Factors

MSD

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profile Job Location:

Rahway, NJ - USA

profile Monthly Salary: $ 156900 - 247000
Posted on: Yesterday
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Job Description

The Human Factors team plays a pivotal role in combination product development (both design and process) commercialization and lifecycle management. This person will lead and manage human factors activities to ensure compliance with US and global regulatory policies/guidance for all combination products and medical devices in our Companys portfolio and pipeline including acquisition products.

This position will interact extensively with all subject-matter experts within the Device Development team as well as with members of numerous internal cross-functional product development teams from concept through product launch and post-market surveillance.

Key Responsibilities and Activities:

  • Coach and mentor junior scientists fostering their professional growth and development within the organization.

  • Lead Human Factors Project Work (Strategy and Execution) including but not limited to

  • Own HF strategy from early concept through validation and post-market for devices and combination products.

  • Build HF plans and study roadmaps; select methods (user research task/use-error analysis risk mitigation formative/summative usability testing).

  • Turn user insights into design inputs for device UI packaging labeling and IFU; guide intuitive safe designs.

  • Partner with marketing program management clinical safety regulatory manufacturing packaging and labeling to integrate HF and manage risk.

  • Lead regulatory deliverables: HF protocols/reports linkage to risk management (ISO 14971) hazard/use-related risk analyses and submission materials (FDA EU MDR).

  • Maintain compliant HF documentation and traceability; ensure audit readiness.

  • Monitor post-market use-related issues and drive corrective actions and training.

  • Lead Human Factors Project Work (Strategy and Execution) including but not limited to

  • Define and continuously improve HF process standards and templates per IEC 62366-1 and FDA guidance.

  • Set clear governance (gates criteria documentation) for consistent HF quality across programs.

  • Create reusable methods for needs discovery user profiling task analysis and use-related risk assessment.

  • Provide portfolio-level guidance for UI labeling and IFU to reduce use-related risk.

  • Train cross-functional teams on HF practices and compliant documentation.

  • Establish metrics and feedback loops (study quality defects post-market signals) to prioritize improvements.

  • Maintain centralized HF libraries and tools to enable reuse and speed development.

Qualifications:

  • B.A./B.S in Human Factors Ergonomics Cognitive or Experimental Psychology Sociology Engineering Chemistry or Business Management plus 15 years of related experience.

  • Strong knowledge of human factors device regulatory requirements and industry standards related to device systems.

  • Prefer to have experience in team and people management.

  • Excellent communication leadership and problem-solving skills.

  • Ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment managing multiple priorities effectively.

Required Skills:

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 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 anothers thinking and approach problems collectively.

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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 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

$156900.00 - $247000.00

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 employees 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 can apply for this role through (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:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

01/31/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.


Required Experience:

Staff IC

Job DescriptionThe Human Factors team plays a pivotal role in combination product development (both design and process) commercialization and lifecycle management. This person will lead and manage human factors activities to ensure compliance with US and global regulatory policies/guidance for all c...
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Key Skills

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Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA is known as “Merck” in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. We are known as “MSD” in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America & Asia Pacific. We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a diverse portfolio of prescription medicine ... View more

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