Associate Principal Scientist, Oral Formulation Sciences
Merck
August 21, 2026
Remote friendly (Rahway, NJ)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Primary Responsibilities:
- Lead formulation development for new chemical entities (from first-in-human formulations to final market formulation definition and robustness assessment).
- Develop innovative product development approaches; generate experimental designs, execute experiments, and analyze data.
- Evaluate new technologies and lead capability building to deploy to pipeline assets.
- Collaborate across functions; serve as subject matter expert in drug delivery and/or drug product manufacturing technology.
- Independently execute formulation and process development using Design of Experiments (DoE); coach others.
- Coordinate with process chemistry, preformulation, analytical, and physical characterization groups.
- Lead project activities at external manufacturing sites.
- Support clinical supply manufacturing/packaging/release; assist scale-up and summarize results in reports and presentations.
- Enhance technical impact via patents, presentations, publications; maintain awareness of new technologies and share insights.
Education (Minimum):
- Ph.D. in Chemical/Biomedical/Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field + 4 years relevant drug product development experience; OR
- B.S./M.S. + 10 years relevant industrial experience.
Required Experience & Skills:
- Lead Formulator experience in matrix teams to define robust formulation/manufacturing processes.
- Hands-on experience operating a pilot plant; knowledge to train others; conventional and novel drug product technology experience.
- Ability to identify innovative ideas; broad formulation science knowledge.
- Independently design/execute/lead complex experiments and data analysis; strong teamwork record.
- Strong verbal and written communication.
Preferred Experience & Skills:
- Enterprise-level project leadership; peer/technical mentoring.
- Subject matter expert in at least one drug delivery/manufacturing technology.
- Track record addressing manufacturing challenges via novel production technologies.
- Apply physical/organic chemistry, physical pharmacy, and materials science; cross-functional breadth (Operations, Analytical Sciences, Commercialization).
Required Skills:
- DoE, downstream process development, drug delivery/formulations, external manufacturing, experimental methods, leading project teams, life cycle planning, manufacturing processes/strategies/technologies, testing, physical characterization.
Application:
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or Workday Jobs Hub). Application deadline is listed on the posting.
- Lead formulation development for new chemical entities (from first-in-human formulations to final market formulation definition and robustness assessment).
- Develop innovative product development approaches; generate experimental designs, execute experiments, and analyze data.
- Evaluate new technologies and lead capability building to deploy to pipeline assets.
- Collaborate across functions; serve as subject matter expert in drug delivery and/or drug product manufacturing technology.
- Independently execute formulation and process development using Design of Experiments (DoE); coach others.
- Coordinate with process chemistry, preformulation, analytical, and physical characterization groups.
- Lead project activities at external manufacturing sites.
- Support clinical supply manufacturing/packaging/release; assist scale-up and summarize results in reports and presentations.
- Enhance technical impact via patents, presentations, publications; maintain awareness of new technologies and share insights.
Education (Minimum):
- Ph.D. in Chemical/Biomedical/Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field + 4 years relevant drug product development experience; OR
- B.S./M.S. + 10 years relevant industrial experience.
Required Experience & Skills:
- Lead Formulator experience in matrix teams to define robust formulation/manufacturing processes.
- Hands-on experience operating a pilot plant; knowledge to train others; conventional and novel drug product technology experience.
- Ability to identify innovative ideas; broad formulation science knowledge.
- Independently design/execute/lead complex experiments and data analysis; strong teamwork record.
- Strong verbal and written communication.
Preferred Experience & Skills:
- Enterprise-level project leadership; peer/technical mentoring.
- Subject matter expert in at least one drug delivery/manufacturing technology.
- Track record addressing manufacturing challenges via novel production technologies.
- Apply physical/organic chemistry, physical pharmacy, and materials science; cross-functional breadth (Operations, Analytical Sciences, Commercialization).
Required Skills:
- DoE, downstream process development, drug delivery/formulations, external manufacturing, experimental methods, leading project teams, life cycle planning, manufacturing processes/strategies/technologies, testing, physical characterization.
Application:
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or Workday Jobs Hub). Application deadline is listed on the posting.