{"id":3659334,"url":"https://alion.io/job/merck-co-senior-data-specialist-modeling-informatics","title":"Senior Data Specialist, Modeling & Informatics","company":{"id":3768,"name":"Merck & Co.","domain":"msd.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/msd","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":98,"open_postings":159,"ghost_share":0.038,"stale_share":0.113,"repost_share":0.151,"time_to_fill_p50_days":16,"computed_at":"2026-11-04T06:34:25Z"}},"role":"Data Science","role_family":"Data Science","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Cambridge, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":159600,"max":251200,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":251200},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"SQL","optional":false},{"name":"AWS","optional":true},{"name":"Databricks","optional":true},{"name":"Keras","optional":true},{"name":"Linux","optional":true},{"name":"Pandas","optional":true},{"name":"PyTorch","optional":true},{"name":"Scikit-learn","optional":true},{"name":"TensorFlow","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-26T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-26","last_verified_at":"2026-11-04T18:32:36Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":9,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":9},"description":"Job Description\nPosition Description\nWe are seeking an exceptional and highly motivated informatician to join the Cheminformatics group within Modeling and Informatics (M&I) at our company. This role requires strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills and experience working in a cross-functional team environment. It involves both the development of innovative computational methods involving AI/ML and cheminformatics, as well as direct application of advanced computational approaches to the invention of novel medicines.\nM&I is an inclusive team within our Research & Development Division Discovery Chemistry organization, comprising approximately 50 computational chemists, cheminformaticians, and data scientists. We leverage cutting-edge capabilities in structure-based modeling, predictive science, and AI/ML to drive drug design and development globally, with a proven track record of pipeline impact. The selected candidate will work closely with the M&I team, our world-class chemistry teams, as well as cross-functionally with experimental and computational colleagues in the early target discovery space on innovative science that has a wealth of opportunities to impact drug discovery and ultimately save and improve patient lives.\nKey responsibilities will include:\nImplement and apply effective AI/ML and cheminformatics workflows to impact early target discovery space data analysis.\nAnalyze, interpret, and summarize complex chemical biology data and utilize a variety of data visualization tools to communicate findings.\nDeliver optimized informatics algorithms and workflows to expedite drug discovery pipelines in the early target discovery space for small molecules, peptides, and targeted protein degraders.\nLeverage novel ML, statistics, and cheminformatics techniques to improve hit identification for different screening paradigms.\nAnalyze and integrate internal and external knowledge to facilitate biological and chemical signature identification.\nProactively engage with cross-functional teams of experimental and computational scientists and collaborate effectively to advance project and pipeline goals\nContinue research in areas of AI/ML and cheminformatics relevant to drug discovery, and evaluate new technology and software from commercial sources, open innovation, or external collaborations.\nEffectively communicate scientific results internally and externally through presentations and publications.\nShare AI/ML and/or data engineering knowledge to augment team skills and capabilities.\nPosition Qualifications:\nEducation Minimum Requirement:\nPh.D. in cheminformatics, bioinformatics, computational biology or chemistry, computer science, statistics or related STEM fields\nRequired Experience and Skills:\nExperience applying cheminformatics or AI/ML approaches to problem-solving in drug discovery.\nBroad understanding of modern data science methods, particularly machine learning, e.g., predictive modeling, active learning, explainable ML.\nStrong oral and written communication skills, as well as problem-solving skills.\nTrack record of scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.\nProficiency in scripting (Python and/or R), SQL, and cheminformatics toolkits (OEChem, RDKit, DeepChem).\nPreferred Experience and Skills:\nDemonstrated ability to develop and apply AI/ML to problems of chemical or biological interest.\nExperience with IT infrastructure such as database systems, cloud computing (such as Databricks, AWS), and high-performance computing in Linux environments.\nExpertise in machine learning libraries (TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch, Pandas, Scikit-Learn).\nExperience with workflow applications and data analytics software (Pipeline Pilot, Knime, Spotfire).\nExperience with high throughput screening data analysis methods.\nExperience in chemical and biological signature identification and/or biomarker discovery.\nFamiliarity with or experience with multiple therapeutic modalities (small molecules, peptides, ADCs, etc.)\nExperience working in multidisciplinary teams that include experimental scientists.\nRequired Skills:\nAlgorithms, Biological Data Analysis, Biomarker Discovery, Biovia Pipeline Pilot, Chemical Informatics, Cheminformatics, Computational Biology, Data Analysis, Data Modeling, Drug Discovery Research, Informatics, KNIME, Machine Learning (ML), Python (Programming Language), TIBCO SpotfirePreferred Skills:\nCurrent Employees apply HERE\nCurrent Contingent Workers apply HERE\nUS and Puerto Rico Residents Only:\nOur 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.\nAs 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. Asa 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:\nEEOC Know Your Rights\nEEOC GINA Supplement\nWe 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.\nLearn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts\nThe primary location for this posting is:\nUSA - Massachusetts - Cambridge (320 Bent Street)Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.\nThe salary range for the primary location of this role is:\n$159,600.00 - $251,200.00This 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.\nWe 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.\nAdditional 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.\nAdditional location(s) Compensation Information:\nSan Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance\nLos 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\nSearch Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully\nMerck & 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.\nEmployee Status:\nRegularRelocation:\nDomesticVISA Sponsorship:\nNoTravel Requirements:\nNo Travel RequiredFlexible Work Arrangements:\nNot ApplicableShift:\nNot IndicatedValid Driving License:\nNoHazardous Material(s):\nN//AJob Posting End Date:\n11/6/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. 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