Principal ScientistDirector (Downstream), Biologics Drug Substance Commercialization (BDSC)
Rahway, NJ - USA
Job Summary
Job Description
Are you ready to make a significant impact on the world of biopharmaceuticals purification At our company we are at the forefront of innovation in our manufacturing division specifically within the Biologics Drug Substance Commercialization (BDSC) team. Our Downstream Purification department is seeking a passionate and skilled individual to lead the charge in transforming our late-stage pipeline and commercial products into reality. Join us and be a part of a team that is dedicated to advancing the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals.
The Principal Scientist (Director level) position in BDSC-Downstream team is a senior scientific and people leadership role supporting late stage and commercial biologics programs with a primary focus on biologics downstream processing. This position offers the opportunity to lead high impact scientific work across complex modalities including multi-specific antibody therapeuticswhile developing talent and shaping downstream strategies that directly support global manufacturing and regulatory success.
Reporting to the Director of BDSC-Downstream the Principal Scientist (Director) will manage a team of downstream scientists and serve as a key technical leader and collaborator across Manufacturing Quality Regulatory and external partners.
Responsibilities
- Lead downstream and/or integrated drug substance teams supporting late-stage clinical and commercial programs with clear line of sight to licensure and commercialization.
- Provide technical leadership for laboratory scale and manufacturing scale studies supporting process characterization validation investigations and continued process verification.
- Serve as a downstream subject matter expert across core unit operations with a strong understanding of upstream analytical and GMP manufacturing interdependencies.
- Ensure process and product knowledge are developed documented and transferred in alignment with company standards and regulatory expectations.
- Support technology transfer activities to internal and external manufacturing sites including scale-up process validation and manufacturing readiness.
- Contribute to manufacturing investigations and lifecycle management activities for commercial processes.
- Author and review technical and regulatory documentation including sections supporting regulatory submissions.
- Drive division-wide initiatives aligned with biologics manufacturing and commercialization strategy.
- Influence multi-year planning: capability needs digital systems platform evolution.
- Represent BDSC on cross-functional and cross-divisional teams.
- Actively collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners including contract development and manufacturing organizations.
- Lead coach and mentor a team of downstream scientists fostering scientific rigor accountability and professional growth.
- Promote a culture of innovation continuous improvement and operational excellence within the laboratory environment.
- Support the leadership team with resource planning staffing strategies and hiring decisions.
- Support talent development strategy including developing future technical leaders and building a talent pipeline.
Qualifications
Required
- BS MS or PhD in Chemical Engineering Biological Engineering Chemistry or a related discipline.
- Minimum Years of experience: Fourteen (14) years (BS) Twelve (12) years (MS) or Six (6) years (PhD) of required industry experience.
- Deep technical expertise in downstream processing of biologics.
- Demonstrated ability to independently design direct execute analyze and document all stages of process development.
- Experience supporting biologics commercialization including late-stage development and/or commercial manufacturing.
- Proven ability to prioritize and deliver complex objectives in fast-paced dynamic environments.
- Strong leadership and collaboration skills within cross-functional matrixed organizations.
- Action-oriented problem-solving mindset with a track record of innovation and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated commitment to coaching and mentoring scientific staff.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate process science and influence technical decision-making.
Preferred
- Leadership experience on drug substance working groups or program teams.
- Direct people management experience.
- Hands-on experience with technology transfer scale-up and validation of biologics processes.
- In-depth knowledge of downstream unit operations including preparative chromatography tangential flow filtration and virus retentive filtration.
- Experience developing or supporting multi-specific antibody therapeutics including bispecific and other complex antibody formats.
- Experience with late-stage process characterization viral clearance studies process performance qualification (PPQ) and validation.
- Experience authoring regulatory submission content (e.g. BLA sections) and/or working with external development or manufacturing partners.
- Working knowledge of analytical characterization of biologics cGMPs and U.S./EU regulatory expectations.
- Experience applying lean leadership and operational excellence principles in laboratory or manufacturing environments.
Required Skills:
Biological Engineering Biologics Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Bioproduction Bioproducts Chemical Engineering Commercialization Cross-Functional Teamwork Decision Making Downstream Processing Drug Development Manufacturing Scale-Up Process Characterization Process Development (PD) Process Transfers Purification Methods Strategic Thinking Technology TransferPreferred Skills:
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The salary range for this role is
$173200.00 - $272600.00This 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:
RegularRelocation:
DomesticVISA Sponsorship:
YesTravel Requirements:
10%Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not ApplicableShift:
1st - DayValid Driving License:
NoHazardous Material(s):
n/aJob Posting End Date:
09/26/2026*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:
Director
About Company
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