Lead Scientist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in New Jersey
Lead scientist visa sponsorship jobs in New Jersey are concentrated in the state's dense pharmaceutical and biotechnology corridor, with major employers including Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer operating research campuses across Raritan, Kenilworth, New Brunswick, and Princeton. Academic medical centers and contract research organizations in the region add further hiring activity for sponsored research scientists.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Large Molecule Drug Substance Development is seeking an accomplished scientific leader to direct the strategy and execution of biologics drug substance programs at our Rahway, New Jersey site.
This highly visible position combines cross-functional CMC program leadership with deep expertise in cell line, upstream, and downstream process development; scale-up; technology transfer; and clinical manufacturing. The leader will advance assigned biologics from candidate selection through early clinical development and First-in-Human (FIH) milestones while establishing robust, phase-appropriate processes that enable late-stage development and commercialization. The role is accountable for the drug substance manufacturing process development and in-process control strategies, transfer process to GMP manufacturing sites, and reliable delivery of clinical drug substance supply.
The successful candidate will be an enterprise-minded matrix leader who combines sound scientific judgment with disciplined execution. This individual will align cross-functional teams, anticipate and mitigate program risks, communicate clearly with senior stakeholders, and deliver innovative, scalable, and compliant drug substance solutions.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Integrated CMC Program Leadership (DCT Lead):
- Program Accountability: Lead assigned early-stage Development and Commercialization Teams (DCTs), with accountability for integrated CMC strategy, milestone readiness, cross-functional alignment, and advancement through governance decisions.
- Operating Model Execution: Establish and lead matrixed CMC teams with clear structures, working groups, decision rights, timelines, escalation paths, and functional accountability.
- Cross-Functional Alignment: Coordinate strategy and execution across Drug Substance, Drug Product, Analytical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Global Supply Chain, pilot and commercial manufacturing, and external partners.
- Risk Management and Governance: Identify program risks, evaluate cross-functional trade-offs, develop data-driven contingencies, and provide clear recommendations to senior leaders and governance bodies.
- Execution Discipline: Maintain delivery rigor through structured meeting cadences, decision logs, action tracking, risk registers, and timely communication across teams and governance forums.
Drug Substance Expertise and Strategy:
- Development and Manufacturing Strategy: Define phase-appropriate drug substance strategies covering cell line development, upstream and downstream process development, scale-up, technology transfer, and clinical supply.
- Regulatory Strategy and Authoring: Lead or support the strategy, preparation, review, and approval of drug substance content for global submissions, including INDs, IMPDs, briefing packages, and health authority responses. Lead or participate in drug substance technical reviews.
- Technical Leadership and Problem Solving: Apply expertise across cell line, upstream, and downstream development to solve complex technical and manufacturing issues, integrate multidisciplinary data, and make risk-based recommendations that protect quality, supply, and timelines.
People and Organizational Leadership:
- Talent Development: Coach early-career scientists, functional leads, and technical team members to strengthen scientific depth, cross-functional effectiveness, and execution capabilities.
- Continuous Improvement and Innovation: Lead initiatives that accelerate FIH timelines, simplify CMC governance and handoffs, strengthen platform approaches, and expand the use of advanced process technologies, modeling, automation, and digital tools.
- Enterprise Culture: Promote inclusive leadership, psychological safety, transparent communication, and operational excellence across matrix teams and functions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, or a related discipline, with at least 8 years of relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience; or
- M.S. in a related discipline, with at least 10 years of relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience; or
- B.S. in a related discipline, with at least 14 years of relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
- Integrated CMC and Matrix Leadership: Demonstrated success leading cross-functional CMC teams or complex biologics programs and aligning execution across drug substance, drug product, analytical development, regulatory, quality, manufacturing, and supply chain functions.
- Biologics Drug Substance Development: Proven leadership in cell line, upstream, and downstream process development; scale-up; transfer process to GMP manufacturing sites; clinical manufacturing support; and manufacturing science and technology, with the ability to integrate these disciplines into a cohesive development and control strategy.
- Regulatory Strategy and Authoring: Direct experience preparing, reviewing, and defending drug substance and CMC content for INDs, IMPDs, or equivalent filings, as well as briefing packages and responses to health authority requests.
- Risk-Based Decision Making: Proven ability to identify program risks, clarify complex trade-offs, establish contingency plans, and guide decisions using data and scientific judgment.
- Communication and Influence: Strong collaboration, facilitation, and influencing skills in matrixed environments, with the ability to translate complex technical information into concise, decision-focused communications for governance and executive audiences.
- Delivery and People Leadership: Demonstrated accountability for milestones and program outcomes, combined with a commitment to mentoring scientists and fostering an inclusive, transparent, high-trust culture.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
- Experience using accelerated development, platform, or prior-knowledge approaches to shorten timelines while maintaining appropriate scientific and regulatory rigor.
- Experience developing complex biologic modalities, including bispecific or multispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, fusion proteins, or other next-generation protein therapeutics.
REQUIRED SKILLS:
Biologics, Biopharmaceuticals, Cell Culture Process Development, Cell Line Development, Combination Products, Data Analysis, Drug Formulations, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Matrix Leadership, Pharmaceutical Industry, Pharmaceutical Process Development, Pharmaceutical Research, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Professional Collaboration, Quality by Design, Regulatory Filings, Regulatory Operations, Regulatory Processes, Risk Avoidance, Strategy Development, Technology Transfer
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
LOCATION
The primary location for this posting is:
USA - New Jersey - Rahway
COMPENSATION
The salary range for the primary location of this role is:
$173,200.00 - $272,600.00
This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s 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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
ADDITIONAL LOCATION(S): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.
ADDITIONAL LOCATION(S) COMPENSATION INFORMATION:
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:
Domestic/International
VISA SPONSORSHIP:
Yes
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
10%
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS:
Not Applicable
SHIFT:
Not Indicated
VALID DRIVING LICENSE:
No
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL(S):
n/a
JOB POSTING END DATE:
11/21/2026*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.
REQUISITION ID: R421828
INTRODUCTION
Large Molecule Drug Substance Development is seeking an accomplished scientific leader to direct the strategy and execution of biologics drug substance programs at our Rahway, New Jersey site.
This highly visible position combines cross-functional CMC program leadership with deep expertise in cell line, upstream, and downstream process development; scale-up; technology transfer; and clinical manufacturing. The leader will advance assigned biologics from candidate selection through early clinical development and First-in-Human (FIH) milestones while establishing robust, phase-appropriate processes that enable late-stage development and commercialization. The role is accountable for the drug substance manufacturing process development and in-process control strategies, transfer process to GMP manufacturing sites, and reliable delivery of clinical drug substance supply.
The successful candidate will be an enterprise-minded matrix leader who combines sound scientific judgment with disciplined execution. This individual will align cross-functional teams, anticipate and mitigate program risks, communicate clearly with senior stakeholders, and deliver innovative, scalable, and compliant drug substance solutions.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Integrated CMC Program Leadership (DCT Lead):
- Program Accountability: Lead assigned early-stage Development and Commercialization Teams (DCTs), with accountability for integrated CMC strategy, milestone readiness, cross-functional alignment, and advancement through governance decisions.
- Operating Model Execution: Establish and lead matrixed CMC teams with clear structures, working groups, decision rights, timelines, escalation paths, and functional accountability.
- Cross-Functional Alignment: Coordinate strategy and execution across Drug Substance, Drug Product, Analytical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Global Supply Chain, pilot and commercial manufacturing, and external partners.
- Risk Management and Governance: Identify program risks, evaluate cross-functional trade-offs, develop data-driven contingencies, and provide clear recommendations to senior leaders and governance bodies.
- Execution Discipline: Maintain delivery rigor through structured meeting cadences, decision logs, action tracking, risk registers, and timely communication across teams and governance forums.
Drug Substance Expertise and Strategy:
- Development and Manufacturing Strategy: Define phase-appropriate drug substance strategies covering cell line development, upstream and downstream process development, scale-up, technology transfer, and clinical supply.
- Regulatory Strategy and Authoring: Lead or support the strategy, preparation, review, and approval of drug substance content for global submissions, including INDs, IMPDs, briefing packages, and health authority responses. Lead or participate in drug substance technical reviews.
- Technical Leadership and Problem Solving: Apply expertise across cell line, upstream, and downstream development to solve complex technical and manufacturing issues, integrate multidisciplinary data, and make risk-based recommendations that protect quality, supply, and timelines.
People and Organizational Leadership:
- Talent Development: Coach early-career scientists, functional leads, and technical team members to strengthen scientific depth, cross-functional effectiveness, and execution capabilities.
- Continuous Improvement and Innovation: Lead initiatives that accelerate FIH timelines, simplify CMC governance and handoffs, strengthen platform approaches, and expand the use of advanced process technologies, modeling, automation, and digital tools.
- Enterprise Culture: Promote inclusive leadership, psychological safety, transparent communication, and operational excellence across matrix teams and functions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, or a related discipline, with at least 8 years of relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience; or
- M.S. in a related discipline, with at least 10 years of relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience; or
- B.S. in a related discipline, with at least 14 years of relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
- Integrated CMC and Matrix Leadership: Demonstrated success leading cross-functional CMC teams or complex biologics programs and aligning execution across drug substance, drug product, analytical development, regulatory, quality, manufacturing, and supply chain functions.
- Biologics Drug Substance Development: Proven leadership in cell line, upstream, and downstream process development; scale-up; transfer process to GMP manufacturing sites; clinical manufacturing support; and manufacturing science and technology, with the ability to integrate these disciplines into a cohesive development and control strategy.
- Regulatory Strategy and Authoring: Direct experience preparing, reviewing, and defending drug substance and CMC content for INDs, IMPDs, or equivalent filings, as well as briefing packages and responses to health authority requests.
- Risk-Based Decision Making: Proven ability to identify program risks, clarify complex trade-offs, establish contingency plans, and guide decisions using data and scientific judgment.
- Communication and Influence: Strong collaboration, facilitation, and influencing skills in matrixed environments, with the ability to translate complex technical information into concise, decision-focused communications for governance and executive audiences.
- Delivery and People Leadership: Demonstrated accountability for milestones and program outcomes, combined with a commitment to mentoring scientists and fostering an inclusive, transparent, high-trust culture.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
- Experience using accelerated development, platform, or prior-knowledge approaches to shorten timelines while maintaining appropriate scientific and regulatory rigor.
- Experience developing complex biologic modalities, including bispecific or multispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, fusion proteins, or other next-generation protein therapeutics.
REQUIRED SKILLS:
Biologics, Biopharmaceuticals, Cell Culture Process Development, Cell Line Development, Combination Products, Data Analysis, Drug Formulations, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Matrix Leadership, Pharmaceutical Industry, Pharmaceutical Process Development, Pharmaceutical Research, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Professional Collaboration, Quality by Design, Regulatory Filings, Regulatory Operations, Regulatory Processes, Risk Avoidance, Strategy Development, Technology Transfer
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
LOCATION
The primary location for this posting is:
USA - New Jersey - Rahway
COMPENSATION
The salary range for the primary location of this role is:
$173,200.00 - $272,600.00
This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s 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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
ADDITIONAL LOCATION(S): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.
ADDITIONAL LOCATION(S) COMPENSATION INFORMATION:
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:
Domestic/International
VISA SPONSORSHIP:
Yes
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
10%
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS:
Not Applicable
SHIFT:
Not Indicated
VALID DRIVING LICENSE:
No
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL(S):
n/a
JOB POSTING END DATE:
11/21/2026*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.
REQUISITION ID: R421828
Lead Scientist Job Roles in New Jersey
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Search Lead Scientist Jobs in New JerseyLead Scientist Jobs in New Jersey: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies in New Jersey sponsor visas for lead scientists?
New Jersey's pharmaceutical corridor is home to some of the most active lead scientist visa sponsors in the country. Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, and Novartis all maintain substantial research operations in the state and have established track records of H-1B visa and employment-based green card sponsorship for research and scientific roles. Contract research organizations and specialty biotech firms in the Princeton and New Brunswick areas also sponsor regularly.
What visa types realistically fit lead scientist roles in New Jersey?
Lead scientist roles typically qualify as specialty occupations requiring a directly related bachelor's degree or higher, making the H-1B the most common path. H-1B1 visas are available to Chilean and Singaporean nationals in the same specialty occupation framework. Australian nationals may apply for the E-3 visa. For candidates with an F-1 background, OPT and STEM OPT can bridge employment while an employer pursues permanent sponsorship through an EB-2 or EB-3 green card via PERM labor certification.
Which cities in New Jersey have the most lead scientist visa sponsorship jobs?
The highest concentration of sponsored lead scientist positions sits along the Route 1 corridor and surrounding areas. Raritan, Kenilworth, and Rahway anchor Merck's and Johnson & Johnson's research campuses. New Brunswick, Princeton, and Hopewell host major R&D facilities for several large pharmaceutical companies. Parsippany and Florham Park attract mid-size biotechnology and specialty pharma employers. The northern suburbs near Parsippany also benefit from proximity to New York City's broader life sciences hiring market.
How to find lead scientist visa sponsorship jobs in New Jersey?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find lead scientist roles in New Jersey filtered by verified visa sponsorship history. The platform shows employers with confirmed H-1B and other work visa filing activity, so you can focus on companies already experienced with sponsoring research scientists rather than contacting employers who may be unfamiliar with the process. Searching by role and state surfaces active New Jersey openings specifically matched to this occupation.
Are there any state-specific considerations for lead scientists seeking visa sponsorship in New Jersey?
New Jersey's concentration of large pharmaceutical and life sciences employers means many hiring managers are familiar with visa sponsorship processes, particularly H-1B petitions and PERM labor certifications. Many large employers operate dedicated immigration teams internally. Candidates with PhDs in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or related fields are well-positioned, as the state's research operations heavily favor advanced-degree hires. University pipelines from Rutgers, Princeton, and NJIT also feed sponsored positions at nearby industry employers.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored lead scientist jobs in New Jersey?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.