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Associate Principal Scientist, Analytical R&D

South San Francisco, CA
Full-Time

Job Description

Job Description

Join our Discovery Analytical Research group to drive innovation in analytical measurement technologies, enabling the discovery of new drug candidates across diverse modalities. The Discovery Analytical Research group within Analytical Enabling Capabilities (Analytical R&D) is seeking applicants for an Associate Principal Scientist position available at our research laboratories located in South San Francisco, California.

The successful candidate must be able to collaborate in a dynamic, integrated, and multidisciplinary team environment. A broad range of tools (e.g. high-resolution mass spectrometry, chromatography, spectroscopy) are leveraged, and new technologies are developed to influence selection of new drug candidates and enhance scalability and robustness.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Enable discovery partner groups with advanced analytical methods

  • Represent the discovery analytical research group in project teams, provide technical guidance, and drive scientific strategy

  • Develop, implement, and troubleshoot advanced analytical methods (e.g., high-resolution mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, ion chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, and two-dimensional techniques)

  • Solve complex problems and explore new measurement technologies

  • Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams, foster partnerships with discovery groups, and contribute to organizational goals

  • Support junior scientists and promote a culture of learning and innovation

  • Ensure high standards of data integrity and documentation

Qualifications:

Education:

  • Bachelor's (with 12 years), Master's (with 8 years) or Ph.D. (with 4 years) in Analytical Chemistry or related field and relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills:

  • Strong background and extensive hands-on experience in high-resolution mass spectrometry of large molecules (Proteins, mAb, ADC, etc.) and separation science techniques

  • Demonstrated scientific ability through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations in scientific conferences

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated creativity, and strong interpersonal skills

  • Ability to deliver complex objectives under challenging timelines in a rapidly changing environment

  • Ability to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions

Preferred Experience and Skills:

  • Knowledge of biochemistry and organic chemistry

  • Experience with electronic laboratory notebook applications and good documentation practices

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Analytical Chemistry, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), Biologics, Chemistry, High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), Mass Spectrometry Analysis, Protein Chemistry, Separation Sciences

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 characteristics.As 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 another's thinking and approach problems collectively.

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as "remote".

The salary range for this role is

$156,500.00 - $246,300.00

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:

Domestic/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

12/15/2025

*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.


Requisition ID:R375046

PDN-a07e5512-52ce-4391-a772-e02173636493

Job Description

Join our Discovery Analytical Research group to drive innovation in analytical measurement technologies, enabling the discovery of new drug candidates across diverse modalities. The Discovery Analytical Research group within Analytical Enabling Capabilities (Analytical R&D) is seeking applicants for an Associate Principal Scientist position available at our research laboratories located in South San Francisco, California.

The successful candidate must be able to collaborate in a dynamic, integrated, and multidisciplinary team environment. A broad range of tools (e.g. high-resolution mass spectrometry, chromatography, spectroscopy) are leveraged, and new technologies are developed to influence selection of new drug candidates and enhance scalability and robustness.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Enable discovery partner groups with advanced analytical methods

  • Represent the discovery analytical research group in project teams, provide technical guidance, and drive scientific strategy

  • Develop, implement, and troubleshoot advanced analytical methods (e.g., high-resolution mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, ion chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, and two-dimensional techniques)

  • Solve complex problems and explore new measurement technologies

  • Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams, foster partnerships with discovery groups, and contribute to organizational goals

  • Support junior scientists and promote a culture of learning and innovation

  • Ensure high standards of data integrity and documentation

Qualifications:

Education:

  • Bachelor's (with 12 years), Master's (with 8 years) or Ph.D. (with 4 years) in Analytical Chemistry or related field and relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills:

  • Strong background and extensive hands-on experience in high-resolution mass spectrometry of large molecules (Proteins, mAb, ADC, etc.) and separation science techniques

  • Demonstrated scientific ability through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations in scientific conferences

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated creativity, and strong interpersonal skills

  • Ability to deliver complex objectives under challenging timelines in a rapidly changing environment

  • Ability to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions

Preferred Experience and Skills:

  • Knowledge of biochemistry and organic chemistry

  • Experience with electronic laboratory notebook applications and good documentation practices

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Analytical Chemistry, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), Biologics, Chemistry, High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), Mass Spectrometry Analysis, Protein Chemistry, Separation Sciences

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 characteristics.As 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 another's thinking and approach problems collectively.

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as "remote".

The salary range for this role is

$156,500.00 - $246,300.00

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:

Domestic/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

12/15/2025

*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.


Requisition ID:R375046

PDN-a07e5512-52ce-4391-a772-e02173636493

About Merck

At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities.

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Associate Principal Scientist, Analytical R&D
Merck
South San Francisco, CA
Dec 2, 2025
Full-time
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