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Senior Principal Research Scientist

AbbVie
North Chicago, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 9 Jun 2026

About the role

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, FacebookInstagramX and YouTube.

Job Description

Description:

AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013, following separation from Abbott. AbbVie combines the focus and passion of a leading-edge biotech with the expertise and capabilities of a long-established pharmaceutical leader, to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases.  AbbVie employs approximately 50,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. AbbVie Process Chemistry is seeking a Senior Principal Research Scientist to conduct process research and development of drug conjugates, peptides, and small molecules from pre-clinical through early clinical phases.

Key Responsibilities:

  • The candidate will lead the setting and implementation of the Process Chemistry strategy for projects across therapeutic modalities and will serve as a cross-functional expert influencing overall strategy across Synthetic Molecules CMC R&D.
  • The candidate will lead project teams in process development and characterization across modalities.
    • Lead the development and characterize processes in the laboratory and translate them to scalable processes.
    • Proactively advise and share knowledge and expert opinions with subordinates, peers, and senior leadership. Mentor staff in troubleshooting strategic and experimental issues.
    • Author and review key regulatory documents, laboratory data, technical memos and reports.
  • The position involves multi-disciplinary interactions with organic chemists, analytical chemists, engineers, drug product development scientists, asset strategy leadership, and program management.
  • The candidate will identify and nurture ideas for continuous improvement activities and initiatives across Synthetic Molecules CMC R&D.
  • The candidate will be responsible for setting project strategies, defining project responsibilities and timelines, developing control strategies, providing leadership in a matrixed team setting and developing robust processes for cGMP manufacturing.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD Degree in Organic Chemistry with typically 18+ (BS), 16+ (MS) or 10+ (PhD) years of experience. Candidates with less experience may be considered for other opportunities.
  • Experience managing and developing scientific leaders and teams in CMC is required.
  • Experience with siRNA, antibody drug- and oligonucleotide-conjugates (AOCs), and high-potent compounds is preferred.
  • Proven scientific leadership; strong interpersonal and communication skills for facilitating collaborations and a demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional process development teams and represent program strategy to allied functions and leadership.
  • The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of modern organic chemistry, mechanistic theory, control strategy development (including mutagenic impurity and nitrosamine controls), and regulatory starting material strategies.
  • An understanding of global regulatory expectations and experience with authoring development reports and regulatory filings is highly desirable.

 

Key AbbVie Competencies:

Interacts well with diverse groups within function and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external collaborators to enable higher performance. 

  • Learns fast, grasps the "essence" and can change course quickly where indicated.
  • Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo.
  • Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement.
  • Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality.

 

Level and compensation will be commensurate with experience.

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Company

AbbVie

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