Principal Scientist (Scientific Director Level)β Nonclinical Drug Safety
Merck
September 08, 2026
Full-time
Remote friendly (San Diego, CA)
Worldwide
Clinical Research and Development
Role: Discovery Program Leader (DPL) representing Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS) on discovery research teams, primarily in immunology and oncology, responsible for defining and leading NDS strategies across modalities (small molecules, biologics, ADCs) from target identification to First-In-Human GLP toxicity studies. Responsibilities: assess target risks, de-risk discovery programs, collaborate across sites, and contribute to early development and regulatory safety sections. Qualifications: PhD, DVM, or MD with 8+ years in pharma non-clinical safety, proven cross-functional leadership, and experience in biopharmaceutical and small molecule drug development. HighValue: immunology, oncology, biologics, ADCs, early discovery, GLP toxicology, regulatory submissions, cross-site team leadership. WorkSetup: hybrid; ~10% travel.