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Principal Scientist, Nonclinical Drug Safety Program Discovery

MSD


Job Location:

Boston, MA - USA

Monthly Salary: $ 176200 - 277300
Posted: 3 July 2026 (30+ days ago)
Application Deadline: 30 September 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Job Description

Principal Scientist Nonclinical Drug Safety Program Discovery - Equivalent in level to Scientific Director

We are seeking a Discovery Program Leader (DPL) to represent Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS) on discovery research teams and in scientific and strategic review meetings focused primarily on immunology and oncology. This position requires exceptional leadership collaboration and independence and a passion to work collaboratively across functions and sites to discover novel medicines that improve the lives of patients.

The Discovery Program Leader is responsible for defining and overseeing the NDS strategy for programs in all modalities (including small molecules peptides biologics and ADC programs) from Target Identification through to the approval of First-In-Human enabling GLP toxicity studies. They are responsible for 1) providing risk assessments for targets 2) de-risking strategies for discovery programs and 3) collaborating with NDS staff at other sites to execute on the appropriate studies to support selection of therapeutic targets and the identification and development of new drug candidates. The DPL may also serve on development teams with responsibility for defining the GLP toxicology study strategy and execution and for the non-clinical safety sections of regulatory documents that support clinical trials and worldwide marketing authorization.

In this role you will:

  • Represent NDS on discovery teams and participate in therapeutic area discovery governance committee reviews.

  • Promote and facilitate creative thinking from target identification/validation through lead optimization primarily in the Immunology Therapeutic Area but also Oncology Cardiometabolic Infectious Disease and/or Neuroscience Therapeutic Areas.

  • Be a drug creator and promoter of innovative thinking by influencing both cross-site disease area aligned groups as well as functional area disciplines.

  • Identify and assess potential risks associated with therapeutic targets or development candidates using available literature internal data and external information.

  • The individual may also lead early development teams informing on preclinical studies to support product development.

Qualifications skills and experience needed:

  • PhD in Toxicology Pharmacology Pathology Biology Biochemistry Immunology Pharmaceutical Sciences Chemistry or related STEM field DVM MD degree or equivalent.

  • Minimum 8 years of demonstrated pharmaceutical industry experience as a non-clinical safety scientist (e.g. Toxicology Pathology etc.) and/or as non-clinical safety assessment representative to a cross-functional development and/or discovery teams.

  • Demonstrated ability to successfully navigate cross-functional lines and drive team decision making in a matrix organizational structure.

  • Highly dedicated motivated resilient and flexible; capable of creative problem solving and delivering on goals and objectives in a timely fashion.

  • Excellent team player who can work collaboratively with discovery team members from various functions other DPLs and scientists responsible for study conduct and portfolio management.

  • Excellent interpersonal skills able to establish good working relationships within networks of employees of all levels.

  • Excellent communicator who knows when and how to speak up and appropriately raise issues to stakeholders and to management.

Preferred experience:

  • Background in immunology is preferred.

  • Experience with biopharmaceutical and small molecule pharmaceutical development and/or discovery.

  • Experience with regulatory submissions and responses.

  • Member of pharmaceutical consortia and/or external scientific or professional organizations.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Adaptability Combination Products Drug Development Drug Discovery Process Immunology Immunotherapy Innovative Thinking Oncology Professional Collaboration Professional Networking Safety Evaluation Strategic Thinking Toxicology

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:

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 anothers thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights including under California Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$176200.00 - $277300.00

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:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

07/31/2026

*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


About Company

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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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