Principal Scientist, Biologics Formulations (Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences)

Job Description

The Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPS) group based in South San Francisco, CA is seeking a Principal Scientist with expertise in biologics formulation development and candidate selection.

DPS is a multi-disciplinary research group that provides drug delivery, pre-formulation and formulation support for biologics and small molecules at the development and drug discovery interface.  Our team is responsible for the characterization of pre-clinical drug candidates' physicochemical properties.  We aim to work with partner groups to select candidates with optimal development properties while balancing all other key therapeutic properties.  Our research also covers identification of preclinical formulations for pharmacology and toxicology studies and ideally for FIH across a variety of administration routes and modalities (biologics, small molecules, peptides, and oligonucleotides).

In this exciting role, you will focus on the characterization, early formulation development and developability  assessment and delivery approaches for various biologics modalities including monoclonal antibodies, multi-specific, antibody-drug conjugates.  Goals include a) early formulation screening and developability assessment as well as b) recommendation of single candidate together with partner functions. Innovation in protein formulation and drug delivery will be critical. The successful candidate will have expertise in characterizing physicochemical properties of biologics molecules such as aggregation, fragmentation, charge variance, particle formation, as well as a strong track record of solving deep technical challenges.  You will serve as a team member and execute lab experiments yourself with minimal supervision.  You will generate these key data sets and convey their meaning to the teams you work on and develop strategies to optimize molecules and their formulations.  Within DPS you will have the opportunity to contribute to departmental scientific initiatives as an individual contributor and as a technical lead to mentor junior scientists.

Finally, you will also closely interact with other key functions required for the progression of clinical candidate selection including Bioprocess, Analytical Chemistry, Protein Sciences, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics and Medicinal Chemistry.

The successful candidate should have a track record of industrial biologics r formulation development activities using tools like SEC, CE-SDS, cIEF, MFI, HIAC, peptide mapping, etc. A demonstrated track record of problem solving skills and ability to drive innovation (as evidenced by publication, talks, or patents) is highly appreciated.

Position Qualifications:

Education:

• Ph.D. degree with a minimum of six (6) years of relevant industrial experience

Required Experience and Skills: 

• A minimum of six (6) years of experience in developing biologics formulations in preclinical or clinical stages

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Strong leadership/interpersonal skills and motivation to work in a team environment with cross-functional interactions

Preferred Experience and Skills: 

• Experience in pre-clinical /clinical formulation development and physico-chemical characterization of various biologics modalities

• Experience in candidate selection, developability assessment of biologics molecules

• Additional experience in drug delivery technology

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), Biologics, Characterization Techniques, Drug Formulations, Pharmaceutical Formulations, Pharmaceutical Research, Preclinical Drug Discovery

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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The salary range for this role is

$176,200.00 - $277,300.00

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):

NA

Job Posting End Date:

06/19/2026

*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.