Senior Scientist, Chemistry
Merck
- Location
- South San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Employment
- Full Time
- Work model
- On-Site
- Level
- Senior
- Salary
- $131.4k – $206.8k/yr
- Posted
- Aug 20, 2026
Skills
About this role
Job Description
Our Company is seeking exceptional chemists for positions within the Discovery Chemistry Department. The successful candidate will join multidisciplinary, highly collaborative discovery teams to invent novel medicines by applying innovative synthetic chemistry, analytical techniques, and data analysis to design and synthesize drug candidates and intermediates. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills through collaborations with talented and dedicated colleagues while advancing your career. Specific responsibilities will include the following: Act as an expert in the laboratory, executing on program and chemistry strategy. Develop and utilize innovative synthetic, medicinal chemistry and/or chemical biology problem solving skills coupled with analysis of data sets to build structure-activity relationships. Design, synthesize, purify, and characterize drug candidates and/or chemical probes in target identification and validation, hit-to-lead, and lead optimization programs. Provide scientific mentoring and technical training of team members. Establish a substantial external scientific presence including authoring significant scientific publications and presentations. To accomplish the above, the successful candidate must be a creative and innovative scientist with strong organic synthesis, problem solving, interpersonal, collaboration and communication skills.
Education
B.S in chemistry, medicinal chemistry, or related scientific discipline with seven (7) years’ experience, M.S. in related fields with four (4) years’ experience, or a Ph.D. in related fields (received by Summer 2027).
Requirements
Extensive experience in organic synthesis with emphasis on methodology/catalysis, total synthesis, and/or physical organic chemistry. Ability to solve complex problems.
Required Skills
Analytical Chemistry, Analytical Method Development, Chemical Proteomics, Chemistry, Chromatography, Laboratory Techniques, Mass Spectrometry Based Proteomics, Motivation Management, Organic Chemicals, Organic Chemistry, Process Analytical Technology (PAT), Scientific Literacy, Scientific Research, Spectroscopy, Synthetic Chemistry 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: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement 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 $131,400.00 - $206,800.00 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