Sr. Scientist, NMR Spectroscopy

Job Description

Job Description

Our Scientists are our Inventors. We deliver robust scientific data and interpretation that drives the commercialization of breakthrough therapeutics using innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities and modern equipment. Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity and teamwork of people like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement and teamwork. As part of our global team, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing your career.

The Analytical Enabling Capabilities organization in Rahway, NJ is seeking an experienced and highly motivated scientist with strong technical expertise in both solid-state and solution NMR. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence analytical strategies for structure elucidation, form characterization, and physicochemical investigation of small molecule drugs, peptides, and biologics, and to shape NMR approaches across drug discovery and development pipelines.

The successful candidate is expected to independently design and execute NMR experiments to support multiple programs, represent the team in cross-functional teams and develop new methods to solve current industry challenges. The work requires documenting experiments in electronic laboratory notebooks, authoring summaries to inform stakeholders, as well as presenting at seminars and publishing in scientific journals.

Primary Responsibilities

• Work performed in the NMR group includes structure elucidation, analytical method development, physicochemical characterization, and quantitative analysis

• Provide support for process chemistry, analytical development, formulation development, identification of process impurities, drug substance and product degradants, and characterization of other unknown molecules

• Meet with department members across functional teams to understand their scientific challenges. Propose and develop collaborative solutions with the NMR Sciences team that are aligned with prioritized focus areas.

• Author technical reports and scientific presentations

• Explore and develop new technologies applicable to our field

• Demonstrate effective multitasking, prioritization and problem-solving skills in the planning and execution of experiments

• Ensure high standards of data integrity and documentation.  Champion compliance and safety as a leader both within and outside the laboratory

Education Minimum Requirement:

PhD in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or a related field with focus in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy; or MS in Chemistry with 4+ years of relevant industry experience; or BS in Chemistry with 7+ years of relevant industry experience.

Required Experience and Skills

• Strong knowledge of solid-state and solution NMR

• Strong knowledge of organic chemistry, biochemistry or physical chemistry

• Experience with structure elucidation of novel compounds, such as reaction intermediates, impurities, natural products, peptides, proteins, or other biologics

• Comprehensive knowledge of NMR instrumentation, methodology and software

• Skilled in the use and maintenance of Bruker, JEOL, or Varian/Agilent NMR software and hardware including cryoprobes and the application of NMR automation tools

• IT literate with the ability to manipulate data workflows in a networked environment (Windows and Linux OS, macros, scripts, etc.). Experience in scientific programming (Perl, Python) is desirable

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as demonstrated through high impact scientific publications and presentations

​Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience with solid state NMR techniques for form characterization, polymorphism studies, and physicochemical properties

• Functional knowledge of computational chemistry or ability to apply molecular modeling methods to help solve NMR problems

• Familiarity with multiple analytical methods (HPLC, GC, UV, FT-IR, MS, TGA, DSC, SEM, etc) for characterization of chemical matter

• Technically inclined with the ability to troubleshoot complex instrument problems (e.g., automation, robotic systems, cryogen fills, etc.)

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Analytical Chemistry, Analytical Method Development, Assay Development, Bioanalytical Analysis, Biochemical Assays, Cell-Based Assays, Chromatographic Techniques, Computational Chemistry, Cryopreservation, GMP Environments, Innovative Thinking, Laboratory Documentation, Molecular Modeling, Multitasking, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Analysis, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR), Organic Chemistry, Prioritization, Process Analytical Technology (PAT), Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Spectroscopy, Strategic Thinking, Teamwork {+ 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.

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

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:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

yes

Job Posting End Date:

07/3/2026

*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.