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Senior Scientist II / 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 capability or platform you built to improve the business.

What they are checking: Whether they have built something lasting that helped the business, showing innovation beyond running assigned projects.

Tell me about mentoring scientists.

What they are checking: Whether they actively develop other scientists through mentoring, which is expected at this senior level.

What would you do

A pilot plant run shows unexpected particle formation. How do you investigate?

What they are checking: Whether they investigate particles systematically, checking materials, process and equipment, rather than jumping to one cause.

How do you align CMC team members on a drug product plan?

What they are checking: Whether they can bring CMC colleagues to agreement on a plan through clear communication and respect for each function's needs.

About the work

How would you use process modeling to support scale-up of a biologics fill-finish process?

What they are checking: Whether they can use process models to predict scale-up behavior, reducing costly trial and error in fill-finish development.

What changes when developing drug product for AAV or LNPs compared to proteins?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that AAV and LNP products bring new stability and handling challenges compared with proteins.

Walk me through a tech transfer to a third-party manufacturer.

What they are checking: Whether they have led a transfer to an outside manufacturer, including documentation, training and the problems that arise.

How do you design robustness studies for a lyophilization cycle?

What they are checking: Whether they can design studies that test a lyophilization cycle's limits, so the process holds up in manufacturing.

How do you handle neurotoxins or other sensitive products differently in development?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that hazardous products need extra safety controls and planning, which shows range across modalities.

How do you decide when a process is ready to transfer?

What they are checking: Whether they have clear criteria for transfer readiness, since moving too early causes costly failures at manufacturing scale.

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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, located in North Chicago, IL. We are seeking an accomplished scientist with a proven track record in biologics drug product process development, modeling, 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: • Lead the design and execution of biologics drug product formulation and process development, characterization and robustness studies. • Support scale-up and technology transfer activities to internal and external manufacturing sites. • Initiate and/or support scientific initiatives to drive innovation, continuously enhance capabilities and platforms, and improve business processes. • Effectively and timely communicate development plans, risks, and mitigation plans to stakeholders and line management. • Represent Bio DPD in the cross-functional Product Presentation and Device Strategy Team (PPDST) and the CMC Team. This position can be hired at the Sr. Scientist II or Principal Scientist I level depending on years of experience and education Qualifications for the Sr. Scientist II: • Senior Scientist II: 12+ (Bachelors), 10+ (Masters), or 4+ (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. • Hand-on experience with authoring regulatory filings for biologics and sterile parenteral products • Experience leading drug product development as the functional lead within cross-functional teams Preferred Qualifications: • Biologics drug product formulation development • 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 Qualifications for the Principal Scientist I: • 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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