Job DescriptionWe are seeking a Sr. Specialist Technical Product Management with deep expertise in the drug discovery and pre-clinical research process to help build and enhance data products. Join our team to bridge the gap between scientific requirements and data-driven product development and make a significant impact on global health.
Responsibilities- Collaborate closely with Product, Data Science, and Engineering teams to define and develop data products tailored for drug discovery and preclinical research.
- Gather, manage, and prioritize product requirements by engaging with scientific stakeholders to understand user problems, technical constraints, and strategic objectives.
- Define and refine the product backlog; create actionable user stories that reflect the unique workflows and challenges of preclinical drug discovery.
- Act as a user expert, deeply understanding the motivations, pain points, and goals of scientific users.
- Justify and prioritize improvements to existing products, focusing on delivering measurable value to scientific research and operations.
- Develop and maintain technical knowledge and domain expertise in drug discovery, cheminformatics, and data-driven research processes.
- Write clear problem statements and requirements; facilitate solution design with engineering teams.
- Serve as Product Owner on Agile teams or work closely with one to ensure scientific and data needs are met.
- Plan, design, and conduct testing activities; compile critical training and communication content for scientific end-users.
- Analyze data, observations, and research to generate insights that inform product strategy and decision-making.
- Support the Product Manager in defining and executing strategy in collaboration with engineering teams for one or more data products.
- Accept completed user stories, ensuring deliverables meet acceptance criteria and scientific requirements.
- Act as a customer champion, articulating and advocating for the needs of scientific stakeholders.
QualificationsRequired
- Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Two or more (2+) years building tools or data assets supporting scientific or data analytics workflows.
- Three or more (3+) years working with scientific users (e.g., chemists) to define requirements for data products.
- Experience with data analytics or data science capabilities, especially in a scientific context.
- Experience building ERDs, logical data models, and source-target mappings for scientific data.
- Hands-on experience or working knowledge with data management services (AWS Athena, Glue, S3, Redshift, or similar).
- Proficiency in SQL and scientific data management.
- Ability to translate scientific/business problems into actionable requirements and tasks.
- Strong analytical problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and scientific stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
Preferred
- Advanced degree in a related field.
- Direct experience in pharmaceutical drug discovery and pre-clinical development.
- Domain knowledge or familiarity with cheminformatics, laboratory data, and scientific workflows.
- Knowledge of cheminformatics platforms (e.g., Pipeline Pilot, RDKit, OpenEye) and integration with data science tools.
- Familiarity with the drug discovery processes, including key endpoints such as potency, selectivity, ADMET properties, and lead optimization strategies.
- Familiarity with cheminformatics tools and concepts such as molecular descriptors, fingerprints, QSAR modeling, and chemical database management.
- Experience with Machine Learning Platforms (e.g., Sagemaker, DataBricks) in a scientific setting.
- Experience working in Agile software development.
- Familiarity with cloud-based software and scientific data platforms.
Required Skills: Agile Application Development, Agile Software Project Management, Asset Management, AWS Tools, Benefits Management, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Data Science, Drug Discovery Process, Management System Development, Mechatronics, Multi-Management, Preclinical Research, Product Management, Requirements Management, Scientific Data Management, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, System Designs, Training Documents
Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:The salary range for this role is
$117,000.00 - $184,200.00
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 employee's 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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (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:06/26/2026
*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. 
