Job DescriptionPrimary Responsibilities: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 Process, Product, and Analytical understanding. The tools that we develop are as the team developing them, and in this role, the chosen candidate will leverage digital technologies to enable chemistry, manufacturing, and controls activities across our small molecule, biologics, and vaccines portfolio. Working at the intersection of pharmaceutical science, digital technologies, and data integration, the candidate will help enable FAIR, AI-ready scientific data ecosystems that accelerate research, enhance decision making, and improve the way scientific knowledge is generated, managed, and reused across the development lifecycle.
In this role, the candidate will help us progress towards our goal of automated and connected laboratories. The candidate will leverage industry standard and emerging technologies to enable integration, orchestration, and visualization of laboratory systems and workflows. This position will work collaboratively across laboratory automation, digital engineering, and IT teams to independently own and deliver technical solutions connecting laboratory equipment, automation systems, and data pipelines into cohesive, scalable solutions aligned with our future vision.
How You'll Make an Impact:- Connect the ecosystem by integrating instrument and equipment platforms with semantic context and data systems to enable end-to-end digital workflows
- Work at the intersection of disciplines, collaborating with experts in automation, data science, modeling, IT, knowledge capture, and the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls community at large
- Translate science into systems by partnering with researchers to understand experimental needs and integrate them with scalable digital workflows
- Lead high-impact projects from concept through deployment, working across teams and stakeholders to deliver meaningful outcomes
- Design the lab of the future by developing automation systems that integrate robotics, instrumentation, equipment, and software into cohesive, high-performing solutions
- Continuously improve existing 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, Computer Science, Data Science, Material Science or a closely related field (with expected graduation no later than December 2026).
- A M.S. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering (i.e., Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical), Physics, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computer Science, Data Science, Material Science or a closely related field with at least 2 years of relevant experience
- A B.S. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering (i.e., Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical), Physics, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computer Science, Data Science, Material Science or a closely related field with at least 4 years of relevant experience
Required Experience and Skills:- Proficient in Python and/or R programming. Comfortable working in development environments such as Jupyter, Posit/RStudio, or VS Code.
- Experience with ETL/ELT processes and building data pipelines in a scientific or pharmaceutical context.
- Familiarity with version control systems (Git/GitHub) and collaborative software development practices.
- Understanding of (bio)pharmaceutical process research and development, drug product development, and/or analytical development
- Excellent communication skills, demonstrated creativity, and effective interpersonal skills
- Ability to deliver complex solutions under compressed timelines in a dynamic environment
- Ability to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions
- Demonstrated ability to work in an entrepreneurial and independent manner on cross-functional teams
- Demonstrated scientific ability through publications and presentations in scientific conferences
Preferred Experience and Skills:- Understanding of knowledge representation and reasoning techniques.
- Working knowledge of ontology design, FAIR principles, data/metadata standards, and scientific data management practices
- Understanding of semantic modeling, knowledge representation, and scientific data contextualization approaches
- Familiarity with life-science data standards, including Allotrope, CDISC, or comparable frameworks
- Experience working with heterogeneous scientific data sources and integrating information across multiple systems or domains
- Experience connecting heterogeneous data sources and resolving differences in terminology, structure, and quality
- Ability to model concepts, entities, relationships, and rules in a machine-readable way
- Familiarity with ontology frameworks or standardized data models (e.g., Allotrope Simple Model, ISA-88, OPC-UA) and experience mapping instrument data to structured schemas.
- Understanding of data science and AI/ML concepts and their application to data contextualization
- Background in leveraging a broad range of data engineering and data science technologies, including digital integration of analytical instrumentation
- Experience in new technology research, including a demonstrated track record of identifying, developing, and deploying digital and data-rich methodologies.
- Wet lab experience in (bio)pharmaceutical drug substance, drug product, and analytical research and development
- Motivated to learn new skills, willingness to take on new challenges, and scientific curiosity
EligibleforERP
Required Skills: Analytical Instrumentation, Bioprocessing, Chemistry, Data Engineering, Data Pipelines, Data Science, High-Throughput Screening, Innovative Thinking, Laboratory Automation, Ontology, Pharmaceutical Process Development, Python (Programming Language), Robotics, Scientific Data Management, Semantic Modeling
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.
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:No
Travel Requirements:No Travel Required
Flexible Work Arrangements:Hybrid
Shift:1st - Day
Valid Driving License:No
Hazardous Material(s):n/a
Job Posting End Date:11/17/2026
*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. 
