Senior Scientist, Wet Lab Automation Scientist

Job Description

We are seeking a dedicated and highly motivated automation scientist to join the Data, AI and Genome Sciences group at our company Research Laboratories in Cambridge, MA. Successful candidates will become part of a creative and flexible team that utilizes cutting-edge automation and science to drive innovation across the drug development pipeline, from pre-clinical to clinical stages. Successful candidates will focus on the operation of automated systems and associated instrumentation. Candidates for the position must support parallel projects and multi-task daily. Experience with automated liquid handlers, detectors, and robots is required. We are focused on remaining at the forefront of this fast-paced, exciting field and are always looking for innovative minds. Critical to success will be the ability to design experiments, interpret and track results, and utilize this information for automated workflow development and optimization. Candidates must have a demonstrated ability to follow established protocols, validate new protocols and show attention to detail. The candidate is expected to participate in preparation of automated systems and associated instrumentation for the execution of automated workflows. Monitoring executing automation systems is crucial with the ability for system and instrument level error recovery.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists, data analysts, and therapeutic area subject matter experts to develop and implement scalable automation workflows that enable high-quality, reproducible data generation in a timely manner.

• Design and execute large-scale automation protocols for cutting-edge single-cell and molecular assays (e.g., Parse-seq, 10x Flex, CROP-seq/Perturb-seq, Olink HT, immune profiling, Multiome ATAC-seq), high-throughput CRISPR screens, and complex 3D model generation using a variety of liquid handlers and robotic instruments.

• Proactively engage with cross-functional teams across Genome Sciences, Discovery & Analytical Genomics Sciences (DAGS), Therapeutic Areas (TAs), and IT to drive impact on early drug discovery efforts under accelerated timelines.

• Clearly communicate objectives, assay protocols, and experimental results through detailed presentations and reports to stakeholders and senior leadership.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Ph.D. in engineering or life sciences, or

• Masters degree in engineering or life sciences with a minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience in laboratory automation within academia, pharmaceutical, or biotechnology settings.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Extensive hands-on experience in laboratory automation for molecular biology applications, with a strong focus on high-throughput genomic technologies such as single-cell RNA-seq, Olink HT, CRISPR-based screens, and 3D cell culture models.

• Proven ability to develop, optimize, validate, and execute automation workflows at scale (e.g., across multiple 96- or 384-well plates).

• Proficiency with a wide range of liquid handlers and robotic systems, including but not limited to: Biomek, Combi, BlueWasher, Cytomat, Precise, Staubli, WDII, Pherastar, Echo, Hamilton, FAST.

• Experience operating in Linux/Unix environments and high-performance computing (HPC) clusters.

• Fluency in scripting and data visualization tools: Basic HSL, R, R Shiny, Python, MATLAB.

• Strong grasp of experimental design principles, with excellent organizational and documentation skills (e.g., drafting SOWs, SOPs).

• Demonstrated problem-solving capabilities, critical thinking, and analytical skills.

• Outstanding communication skillsboth written and verbalwith the ability to effectively train and mentor molecular biologists across a broad range of automation experience levels.

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 anothers thinking and approach problems collectively.

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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 anothers thinking and approach problems collectively.

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as remote.

The salary range for this role is

$116,800.00 - $183,800.00

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 employees 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 .

You can apply for this role through (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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Lentivirus

Required Skills:

3D Cell Culture Models, Automated Liquid Handling Systems, Automation, Automation Systems, Cell Cultures, Cell Culture Techniques, CRISPR-Cas System, Drug Development, Genomics, HPC, Laboratory Automation, Linux, Linux Bash, Mammalian Cell Culture, MATLAB, Molecular Biology, Python (Programming Language), RNA Sequencing, Robotic Liquid Handlers, Robotic Systems, R-Studio, Science, Transcriptomics, Unix

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

08/23/2025

*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.