Principal Scientist, DSCS Digital Technologies–Laboratory Automation, Time Series Data Strategy (Hybrid)

Job Description

We are seeking a Principal Scientist to join our DSCS Digital Technologies (DDT) organization within Development Sciences and Clinical Supply (DSCS) located in either Rahway NJ or West Point PA.

Primary Responsibilities

We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a portfolio of prescription medicines oncology vaccines and animal health products. We are driven by our purpose to develop and deliver innovative products that save and improve lives. With 69000 employees operating in more than 140 countries we offer state-of-the-art laboratories plants and offices that are designed to inspire our employees as we learn develop and grow in our careers. We are proud of our over 125 years of service to humanity and continue to be one of the worlds biggest investors in Research & Development.

In the Development Sciences and Clinical Supply (DSCS) organization we believe digital is the force multiplier that enables faster experiments smarter decisions more robust supply chains and is ultimately redefining how we bring medicines to patients.

Within DSCS the DSCS Digital Technologies (DDT) team is building the next generation of data-rich connected lab environmentswhere hardware software and AI-driven tools work together to accelerate pharmaceutical development. Our goal is simple but ambitious: embed advanced digital capabilities into the DNA of how we work. We believe this future starts with a strong foundation of laboratory tools: innovative robotics process analytical technology (PAT) high-throughput technologies data science integrated instrumentation and automated data enablement that seamlessly transition data from the physical labs to the digital world. We believe innovation is fueled by various teams that come together to build technologies that truly impact how our scientists conduct research. Were looking for a Principal Scientist to help make this vision real.

In this role the chosen candidate will work with a team of scientists tasked with identifying developing and deploying digital and data-rich technologies aimed at improving the manner in which process product and analytical understanding is gathered. The tools that we develop are as various as the team developing them and in this Principal Scientist role the chosen candidate will leverage digital technologies to enable chemistry manufacturing and controls (CMC) activities across our companys small molecule biologics and vaccines portfolio.

The chosen candidate will lead strategy architecture and delivery for time series data capabilities across the DSCS community including integrating various time-series data streams into state-of-the-art contextualized content that can be consumed by downstream data products business data platforms lineage solutions AI-driven modeling workflows dashboards and scientific decision-making tools.

The chosen candidate will define and implement coherent approaches for time series data collection processing visualization historization contextualization and movement across small molecules biologics and vaccines that span laboratory to commercial scales. This includes real-time data collected as a process is happening near-time data processing and visualization and post-batch monitoring and analysis. This role will help establish a comprehensive strategy with clear definitions prioritization principles and scalable platforms across real-time near-time and post-batch efforts that align short-term business solutions with sustainable long-term enterprise strategies. Areas of focus may include historian requirements and alternatives persistent time series data contextualization ontology and unified namespace concepts modern communication standards such as OPC and MQTT GMP-aware design where needed and flexible access patterns for scientific and operational consumers.

How Youll Make an Impact

• Design the lab of the future by developing technologies that integrate robotics analytical instrumentation and software into cohesive high-performing solutions

• Deliver world-renowned science by partnering with researchers to understand experimental needs and convert them into scalable digital workflows

• Work at the intersection of multiple disciplines collaborating with experts in automation data science modeling IT and the CMC community at large

• Lead high-impact projects from concept through deployment working across teams and stakeholders to deliver meaningful outcomes

• Continuously improve existing digital technologies and automation platforms to enhance performance usability and reliability

• Empower others by providing hands-on partnership support troubleshooting and training to scientists using these technologies

Education Minimum Requirement

• A Ph.D. in Chemistry Biochemistry Engineering (i.e. Mechanical Electrical Chemical) Physics Biology Pharmaceutical Sciences Material Science or a closely-related field with at least 6 years of relevant experience

• A M.S. in Chemistry Biochemistry Engineering (i.e. Mechanical Electrical Chemical) Physics Biology Pharmaceutical Sciences Material Science or a closely-related field with at least 8 years of relevant experience

• A B.S. in Chemistry Biochemistry Engineering (i.e. Mechanical Electrical Chemical) Physics Biology Pharmaceutical Sciences Material Science or a closely-related field with at least 10 years of relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills

• Highly motivated technology-centric scientist or engineer with a demonstrated track record of modernizing pharmaceutical development practices that include biologics vaccines and small molecule modalities.

• Demonstrated experience with time series data continuous data streams scientific data engineering laboratory or pilot plant automation process informatics PAT or related data-rich technology ecosystems.

• Ability to architect and communicate scalable approaches for real-time near-time and post-batch data collection processing visualization historization contextualization and consumption.

• Experience translating scientific and operational needs into data requirements technical requirements user stories or solution architectures across multiple stakeholder groups.

• Strong understanding of how data classifications data dimensions instrumentation workflows users criticality and lifecycle considerations influence solution design and prioritization.

• Ability to work across multiple IT product lines and enterprise capabilities while balancing near-term business needs with sustainable long-term support models.

• Excellent communication skills demonstrated creativity effective interpersonal skills and ability to influence without direct authority in a matrixed environment.

• Ability to lead complex cross-functional projects under compressed timelines in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Extensive experience with historians or time series platforms including requirements definition evaluation of alternatives migration strategy contextualization or data access patterns.

• Familiarity with modern industrial and laboratory data communication standards and patterns including OPC unified namespace concepts ontology structures asset models metadata models and contextualized data products.

• Experience designing solutions for persistent time series data GMP-aware systems where appropriate and flexible access patterns for scientific engineering modeling and operational consumers.

• Experience with laboratory and pilot plant data sources such as sensor data reactor data offline on-line and in-line analytical data scalar/vector/array/cube data structures and dimension-plus-time data representations.

• Background in data engineering cloud or enterprise data platforms data modeling Python R Studio SQL Databricks visualization tools API-based integration or related technologies.

• Experience evaluating developing or deploying digital and data-rich methodologies that support process and product understanding batch analysis and monitoring and/or CMC decision-making.

• Demonstrated track record of leading teams in a cross-functional collaborative manner that span automation IT data science modeling process product and analytical development and manufacturing.

• Motivated to learn new skills take on new challenges and bring scientific curiosity to ambiguous enterprise-scale data problems.

EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Adaptability Adaptability Analytical Instrumentation Automation Biochemistry Biopharmaceutical Industry Business Cross-Functional Teamwork Data Access Data Analysis Data Engineering Data Science Digital Technology Enterprise Data Innovation Innovative Thinking Laboratory Automation Leadership Mentoring Pharmaceutical Development Pharmaceutical Process Development Pharmaceutical Sciences Professional Collaboration Project Prioritization Quality by Design Real Time Data 2 more

Preferred Skills:

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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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The salary range for this role is

$173200.00 - $272600.00

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

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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:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

08/24/2026

*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.