Principal Scientist, DDT-Lab Automation, Digital Lab and Automation Strategy

Principal Scientist, DSCS Digital Technologies - Laboratory Automation, Digital Lab and Automation Strategy

Job Description

We are seeking a Principal Scientist to join our DSCS Digital Technologies (DDT) organization, within Development Sciences and Clinical Supply (DSCS), located in Rahway, NJ.

We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a portfolio of prescription medicines, oncology, vaccines, and animal health products. We are driven by our purpose to develop and deliver innovative products that save and improve lives. With 69,000 employees operating in more than 140 countries, we offer state‑of‑the‑art laboratories, plants and offices that are designed to inspire our employees as we learn, develop, and grow in our careers.

We are proud of our over 125 years of service to humanity and continue to be one of the world's biggest investors in Research & Development. In the Development Sciences and Clinical Supply (DSCS) organization, we believe digital is the force multiplier that enables faster experiments, smarter decisions, more robust supply chains, and ultimately redefining how we bring medicines to patients.

Within DSCS, the DSCS‑Digital Technologies (DDT) team is building the next generation of data‑rich, connected lab environments where hardware, software, and AI‑driven tools work together to accelerate pharmaceutical development. Our goal is simple but ambitious: embed advanced digital capabilities into the DNA of how we work. We believe this future starts with a strong foundation of laboratory tools: innovative robotics, process analytical technology (PAT), high‑throughput technologies, reliable instrumentation, and integrated systems that seamlessly transition data from the physical labs to the digital world.

We believe innovation is fueled by teams that come together to build technologies that truly impact how our scientists conduct research. We’re looking for a Principal Scientist to help make this vision real.

In this role, the chosen candidate will work with a team of scientists tasked with identifying, developing, and deploying digital and data‑rich technologies aimed at improving the manner in which process, product, and analytical understanding is gathered. The tools that we develop are as the team developing them, and in this Principal Scientist role, the chosen candidate will leverage digital technologies to enable chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) activities across our company's small molecule, biologics, and vaccines portfolio.

This includes, but is not limited to, leading lab automation and high throughput technology initiatives via the design, build, and maintenance of lab automation platforms and developing next‑generation digitally integrated lab automation solutions to support current and future DSCS development.

• Design the lab of the future – by leading high throughput lab automation initiatives that integrate robotics, analytical instrumentation, and software into cohesive, high‑performing solutions – leveraging digital tools (e.g. Agentic AI) where possible to enable rapid development cycles
• Deliver world‑renowned science – by partnering with researchers to understand experimental needs and convert them into scalable digital workflows
• Work at the intersection of multiple disciplines – collaborating with experts in automation, data science, modeling, IT, and the CMC community at large
• Lead high‑impact projects – from concept through deployment, working across teams and stakeholders to deliver meaningful outcomes
• Continuously improve – existing digital technologies and automation platforms to enhance performance, usability, and reliability
• Empower others – by providing hands‑on partnership, support, troubleshooting, and training to scientists using these technologies

• Ph.D. in Chemical/Biochemical/Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a closely‑related field with at least 6 years of industrial/pharmaceutical or relevant experience
• M.S. in Chemical/Biochemical/Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a closely‑related…