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This position has closed. AbbVie removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 3, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Principal Research Scientist I Eng

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Aug 5, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 2, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You would function as a principal investigator generating original technical ideas and development strategies. Tell me about a technical approach you originated that was adopted.

What they are checking: Original contribution, not just problem solving.

You mentor and supervise a small team. How do you develop a scientist whose judgment you do not yet trust?

What they are checking: Developing judgment rather than skills.

This is a Principal Research Scientist I seat at North Chicago overseeing external drug substance manufacturing. How much travel would you expect, and what would you want to know about the partner network?

What they are checking: That they ask about the practical shape of a role the posting describes only loosely.

What would you do

This role provides technical oversight for external manufacturing partners producing drug substance and intermediates. How do you build technical confidence in a site you do not run?

What they are checking: Oversight at arm's length, which is the whole job.

An external partner reports a deviation on a batch. Walk me through your first day on it.

What they are checking: Response when the facts are at someone else's site.

A partner wants to change a supplier or a process step to reduce their cost. How do you evaluate it?

What they are checking: Assessing a change that benefits the partner and may risk the product.

About the work

How do you tell whether a partner's process problem is a process issue or an execution issue?

What they are checking: Diagnosis across the boundary between science and operations.

You would anticipate and critically evaluate scientific or regulatory advances and competitive threats. What change in external manufacturing should this industry be watching?

What they are checking: Outward-looking judgment appropriate to a principal scientist.

You would be primary author of regulatory documents. How does writing for a regulator differ from writing for a journal?

What they are checking: Range across the two kinds of technical writing the posting names.

How do you decide a process is ready to transfer to an external partner?

What they are checking: Transfer readiness, where being wrong costs months.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

This role will provide technical oversight for our external manufacturing partners which encompasses drug substance and intermediate manufacturing. The individual will handle direct research and/or project activities and professional development of a group of scientists within the individual’s area of expertise by effectively mentoring, guiding and/or supervising scientific personnel. Responsibilities • Effectively function as a principle investigator, generating original technical ideas and research or development strategies. • Demonstrate creative 'out of the box' thinking to solve difficult problems and champion new technologies to achieve project goals. • Independently responsible for project science within his/her area of expertise on one or more project teams. • Make significant contributions to project team through lab based, or other work environments, activities. • Generate new scientific proposals and lead those efforts. Anticipate and critically evaluate scientific or regulatory advances or competitive threats and respond with appropriate new strategies. • Recognized and sought out as an expert in his/her discipline within the company and possibly externally. • Primary author of publications, presentations, regulatory documents and/or primary inventor of patents. • Present at leading scientific conferences. • Mentor/supervise a team of one or more and evaluate the performance of those individuals; is accountable for the effective performance of the team/individuals. • Independently conceive, execute and communicate novel multi-disciplinary research or development strategies that achieve project and area goals. • Serve as a lead scientist on his/her own project and contribute scientific insights into multiple other projects. • BS or equivalent education and extensive, typically 14+ years of experience; MS or equivalent education with typically 12+ years of experience; PhD with typically 6+ years of experience in area or scientific area of discipline. • Demonstrated ability to function as a principle investigator, generating original technical ideas and research or development strategies. • Demonstrate creative 'out of the box' thinking to solve difficult technical problems and champion new technologies to achieve project goals. • Recognized and sought out as an expert in his/her discipline within the company and possibly externally. • Experienced and demonstrated success as primary author of publications, presentations, regulatory documents and/or primary inventor of patents. • Demonstrated scientific communication and presentation skills by presenting at leading scientific conferences. Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​ • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​ • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​ • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs. ​ Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law. AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more: https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html