Senior Scientist, Pharmacokinetics

Job Description

The PDMB Regulated Bioanalytics Department is seeking a Senior Robotics Engineer to join our Regulated Robotics group.  This role will support work across groups within the Regulated Bioanalytics Department, including work at our company’s new state-of-the-art AdVAnce GxP research facility in West Point, PA.  At this new facility, we will combine the power of innovative robotics, IT platforms, and science to accelerate multiple modalities and enable late-stage clinical trials through the generation of timely, high-quality regulated bioanalytical data.  

The selected individual will provide excellent automation and operational support to our scientific partners. Specifically, the individual will be responsible for the set up and operation of state-of-the-art, end-to-end laboratory automation systems. This individual will provide high level automation and engineering support, troubleshooting, and assist in the design and fabrication of components to support the clinical research environment.  The individual must also have the mindset to sustain and operate the systems they have helped build and organize.

Education Minimum Requirement

• BA/BS in Engineering, Biotechnology, Computer Science or equivalent with at least 7 years, MS with at least 3 years, or PhD with hands-on experience in related field

Responsibilities:

Liquid Handling / Automation Integration

• Program and integrate of laboratory instrumentation from vendors such as Beckman Coulter, Hamilton, Tecan etc.

• Develop and optimize liquid handling protocols on Biomek/Hamilton/Tecan as well as perform liquid class validation

• Coordinate with vendors to support and service equipment to minimize down time

• Responsible for operations, troubleshooting, and optimization of novel robotic platforms

Team Interface

• Act collaboratively to solve problems and resolve new and unique situations with professionalism and service orientation

• Provide timely scientific support to assay staff while maintaining project timelines

• Empower, coach, and grow our scientific partners as they transfer their experiments to robotic platforms

Project Support

• Procure material required for assay execution, system builds, and general laboratory support

• Develop and execute installation, testing, and validation procedures on novel automation platforms

• Coordinate installation requirements with Safety and Facilities

Process Optimization

• Seek to continuously improve processes, systems, and overall client satisfaction 

• Provide direction/information to vendors, suppliers, facilities staff, and service providers as required, ensuring excellent coordination/execution of work within the client environment with minimal disruption, as needed

Required Experience & Skills

• This is primarily an in-the-lab position that will require the selected individual to be 100% on site

• High level of automation and engineering competency and technical expertise in the areas of integration, robotics, liquid handling, software, and electro-mechanical solutions, and ability to apply this expertise to continuously improve the organization's technical competency and output 

• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with site leaders, corporate management, and other stakeholders to ensure effective communication of plans and issues

• Ability to prioritize projects and resources to deliver required level of output and support to customers

• Ability to work independently

• Experience with commercial laboratory software and equipment (e.g., Momentum, Green Button Go, Cellario, Beckman, Tecan, Hamilton, Brooks)

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Experience working in pharmaceutical or biotech companies and/or laboratory experience

• A cursory understanding of bench science

• Experience with Microsoft programming languages (e.g., VB, Python, C#,  SQL)

• Regulated or Clinical operation and documentation experience (e.g., GxP)

• Laboratory Field Service experience

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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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

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

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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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

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