Scientist, Downstream Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D

Job Description

Role Description:

We are seeking an innovative, highly motivated, and experienced Scientist to join us at our research and development site in West Point, PA. The candidate will be responsible for scientific/technical contributions and leadership of bioconjugation process development, and will also be a critical member of cross-functional program/project teams.

This role will require frequent collaboration with cross-functional teams including Analytical, Formulation, Process Chemistry, Enabling Technologies, and Manufacturing colleagues. The candidate should have a strong background in downstream bioprocess/bioconjugation design, including reaction steps, filtration (tangential and normal flow) and column chromatography.

Primary responsibilities:

- Independent design, execute, and analyze process development experiments to maximize vaccine production processes, thereby de-risking later stage development and tech transfer.
- Leadership roles in downstream process design and development for vaccine candidates.
- Represent functional area in cross-functional and strategic teams engaged in vaccine development.
- Lead tech transfer of vaccine drug substance processes for clinical and commercial manufacture.
- Serve as a scientific/technical mentor. Provide technical guidance in the various aspects of downstream bioprocess/bioconjugation development.
- Support strategic initiatives and innovation in the areas of vaccine and advanced biotechnology process development.
- Analysis of experiments through analytical techniques including HPLC, electrophoresis, light scattering, and spectroscopy.
- Data interpretation and presentation, manuscript/patent preparation.

Education Minimum Requirement:

- BS, MS or PhD in engineering or bio/chemical sciences:
- Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology
- For BS candidates, at least two (2) years of experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology-related position
- For MS candidates, at leas t one (1) year of post-graduate experience in bioprocess/biotechnology-related position (vaccines and/or therapeutic proteins) or relevant academic research thesis.

Required Experience and Skills:

- Must have scientific understanding of downstream bioprocess purification processes.

- Scientific understanding of purification operations of large complex molecules.
- Technical understanding of bioprocess scaling principles.
- Prior hands-on bioprocess development experience through academic lab or industry experience.
- Position requires employee to be willing to work with infectious agents and/or pathogens.
- Position requires occasional travel and off hour/weekend work.
- Strong scientific and hands-on understanding of downstream bioprocess/bioconjugation unit operations, biotherapeutic and/or vaccine process development and sound understanding of scale-up principles.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team-focused environment.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

- Prior hands on experience with any of the following purification bioprocesses: Tangential Flow Filtration, Dead-End Filtration, Chromatography, or Homogenization.
- Experience in Process Tech Transfer to production facilities.
- Experience with biomolecule conjugation (e.g., conjugate vaccines, antibody-drug conjugates), conjugation chemistry and downstream bioconjugate processing.
- Strong understanding of, or hands-on experience in, cGMP manufacturing.

Required Skills:
Analytical Biochemistry, Analytical Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), Biochemistry, Bioconjugation, Biological Engineering, Biologics, Bioprocess Engineering, Bioproduction, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Data Analysis, Downstream Processing, Drug Development, Laboratory Analytical Techniques, Materials Science, Messenger RNA, Molecular Biology, Molecular Cloning, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Process Scale Up, Product Development, Product Formulation, Protein Purifications {+ 1 more}

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:

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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.

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The primary location for this posting is:
USA - Pennsylvania - West Point

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:
$87,300.00 - $137,400.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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 .

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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:
No

Travel Requirements:
No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable

Shift:
Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
n/a

Job Posting End Date:
10/26/2026
*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.