Job Description

Senior Data Scientist

Our company stands at the crossroads of healthcare as a leading entity, armed with a broad continuum of medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. But our ambition reaches beyond today; we’re constructing a progressive healthcare company prepared to foster a healthier tomorrow for all.

The secret to our continued success? That’s where you come in. We believe that your integrity, knowledge, innovation, skill and diversity, together with an unwavering commitment to teamwork, are the engine of our excellence. We’re devoted to nurturing a work environment defined by mutual respect, encouragement, and collaboration.

As part of our global ensemble, you’ll be given the chance to work with talented individuals while enhancing and expanding your own career. In the Data Science team in HR, your role is crucial. You’ll translate business needs into data-driven research projects and products, shedding light on our company’s talent.

Your role blends data science with social science, unearthing workforce trends and enabling us to conduct scalable, reproducible research. Ready to be a part of this journey? Join us to catalyze a healthier, brighter future.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, enhance, and implement models that delve deep into our workforce data
• Boost AI/ML capability within the team, using the latest methods and tools to extract insights from text, activity, behavioral, and network data
• Develop and deploy solutions that meet defined and repeatable needs
• Work hand-in-hand with our client-facing teams to address business needs, providing solutions that are as insightful as they are actionable
• Collaborate with data scientists, data engineers, IT, Data Science community, and HR Operations to amplify data science capabilities and drive innovation
• Act as an AI/ML expert, advising HR colleagues and end users on the best usage within the HR domain

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in data science or machine learning engineering role with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, Statistics or other related field (with Masters' degree, minimum experience is 4 years)
• 2 years of Natural Language Processing (NLP) Experience
• Expertise using Python, R, and SQL to execute a solid portfolio of data science projects involving statistical inference, classical machine learning and deep learning frameworks
• Solid understanding of NLP tools, methods, and pipeline design including experience using large language models
• Proven leadership in team project settings with strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience with cloud computing platforms, such as AWS and Databricks, and related tools
• Familiarity with version control systems
• Openness to coaching and learning from team members with different specializations
• Exceptional initiative, curiosity, communication skills, and a team-first orientation
• Demonstrated interest in projects focused on the workforce

Preferred

• MLOps experience is a big plus, and LLM app deployment experience is ideal
• Ability to manage relationships, influence non-technical stakeholders, and tell a great data story
• Understanding of HR data, processes, information systems, and governance
• Ability to conduct literature reviews and leverage external research to stay on top of best practices in AI/ML and data science in human capital management.

Our Human Health Division maintains a “patient first, profits later” ideology. The organization is comprised of sales, marketing, market access, digital analytics and commercial professionals who are passionate about their role in bringing our medicines to our customers worldwide.

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Required Skills:

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Animal Vaccination, Best Practices Research, Business, Business Data Analytics, Business Intelligence (BI), Computer Science, Data Analysis, Database Design, Data Engineering, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Visualization, Disease Prevention, Human Capital Management, Information Systems Management, Literature Reviews, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Project Reviews, Social Sciences, Software Development, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Veterinary Medicine, Waterfall Model

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

10/2/2025

*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.