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Principal Scientist I, Biologics Drug Product Development

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Other

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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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

Tell me about a tech transfer to an external manufacturing site that you led. What risks did you manage?

What they are checking: Whether they have real scale-up and transfer experience with third-party manufacturers.

Describe a time you had to tell line management that a development plan was at risk.

What they are checking: Whether they communicate risks early with clear mitigation plans, as the posting asks.

Tell me about a time you worked closely with analytical or bioprocess colleagues to solve a drug product problem.

What they are checking: Whether they collaborate across the many groups this role depends on.

What would you do

A stability study shows unexpected subvisible particles at the six-month point. How do you approach it?

What they are checking: Whether they investigate root causes across formulation, container and process before reacting.

The device team wants a different syringe that would require a new formulation study. How do you handle it on the CMC team?

What they are checking: Whether they can weigh cross-functional changes on timeline, risk and patient benefit.

About the work

Walk me through how you develop a formulation for a high-concentration subcutaneous antibody.

What they are checking: Whether they understand viscosity, stability and excipient tradeoffs for patient-friendly dosing.

How does the choice of product presentation, such as a vial, prefilled syringe or autoinjector, affect your formulation and process work?

What they are checking: Whether they connect formulation to device decisions, which matters for the PPDST role.

What formulation and process challenges come with genetic medicines like AAV or LNPs compared with antibodies?

What they are checking: Whether they can extend drug product thinking to the newer modalities in this organization.

How do you design fill-finish process studies to make sure shear, freeze-thaw and hold times will not harm the product?

What they are checking: Whether they know which process stresses matter for biologics and how to characterize them.

How do you use design of experiments in formulation development?

What they are checking: Whether they run efficient, structured studies rather than testing one factor at a time.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Biologics Drug Product Development (Bio DPD), a part of Development Sciences within AbbVie’s R&D, is a global organization that is responsible for drug product formulation and process development, and definition of the product presentation for biologics (proteins, conjugates, peptides, neurotoxins etc.) and genetic medicine (AAV, LNPs, Cell Therapy). AbbVie is seeking a highly motivated candidate for the position of Senior Scientist II / Principal Scientist I, located in North Chicago, IL. We are seeking an accomplished scientist with a proven track record in biologics drug product formulation and process development, scale-up and tech transfer. This position will be an integral part of the product development and CMC teams and will have strong collaborations with several stakeholders, including discovery research, analytical research and development, bioprocess development, combination products development, product development science and technology, pilot plants and third-party manufacturers. Key Responsibilities: • Represent Bio DPD in the cross-functional Product Presentation and Device Strategy Team (PPDST) and the CMC Team. • Effectively and timely communicate development plans, risks, and mitigation plans to stakeholders and line management. • Support scale-up and technology transfer activities to internal and external manufacturing sites. • Lead the design and execution of biologics drug product formulation and process development, characterization and robustness studies. • Initiate and/or support scientific initiatives to drive innovation, continuously enhance capabilities and platforms, and improve business processes. Qualifications: • BS, MS, or PhD in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related disciplines with • Principal Scientist I: 14+ (Bachelors), 12+ (Masters), or 6+ (PhD) years of relevant industry experience. • Proven ability to solve critical scientific problems. • Experience with biologics (proteins, conjugates, peptides and/or neurotoxins), parenteral synthetic molecules and/or genetic medicine (AAV, LNPs, cell therapy) drug product process development. • Experience with sterile manufacturing unit operations (freeze-thaw, compounding, mixing, filtration and filling, lyophilization), characterization, scale-down models, simulation, scale-up, technology transfer, and batch record authoring. • Experience leading drug product development as the functional lead within cross-functional teams Preferred Qualifications: • Hand-on experience with authoring regulatory filings for biologics and sterile parenteral products • Understanding of relevant cGMP and regulatory guidance for biologics and sterile parenteral products • Experience in managing third party manufacturers of sterile parenteral products • Experience with quality risk management and control strategies for biologics and sterile parenteral products Key Competencies: • Deep scientific knowledge and significant hands-on experience with drug product process development and tech transfer • Effectively communicates to influence without authority, drives technical excellence, and inspires continuous improvement. • Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functional partners to enable higher performance. • Connects ideas from disparate fields, integrates data and information quickly, and takes risks to achieve the highest performance. • 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. 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 paymore 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 short-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 untilpaid 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

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