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This position has closed. AbbVie removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Sr. Scientist I, Combination Products

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Sep 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 5, 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'd present results at weekly cross-functional meetings. How do you present a negative result to a project team?

What they are checking: Whether they can present disappointing results clearly and honestly, helping the team decide next steps rather than hiding bad news.

What would you do

You'd do forward-looking evaluation of potential risk with timely problem solving. What would you flag early on a new delivery system?

What they are checking: Whether they spot risks early in new delivery systems, like usability or material issues, before they become costly problems.

A device performs well in the lab and poorly in a human factors study. How do you approach that?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the gap between lab performance and real use, and will redesign around how people actually handle devices.

You'd work in a matrix across portfolios of drug delivery projects. How do you prioritize when several projects want your bench time?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize openly across projects, balancing deadlines and impact, while keeping every stakeholder informed.

This is at Senior Scientist I level at North Chicago. What would you want to know about the portfolio and the equipment before you took it?

What they are checking: Whether they ask about the projects and equipment before accepting, which shows they want to know the real work.

About the work

This role supports development and scale-up of drug delivery devices and combination products. What device or combination product work have you done?

What they are checking: The specific product class, which sits between pharma and device

What changes when a product is a combination of a drug and a device rather than either alone?

What they are checking: Whether they understand combination products must meet both drug and device rules, plus extra testing where the two interact.

The posting names design of experiments for device-related experimental work. Walk me through a designed experiment you ran on a delivery system.

What they are checking: Whether they have used designed experiments on a real delivery system, rather than just knowing the method in theory.

You'd support technology transfer, process development, optimization and scale-up with contract manufacturing organizations. What goes wrong in a transfer to a contract manufacturer?

What they are checking: Whether they know common transfer problems, like missing knowledge and different equipment, and how to prevent them with contract manufacturers.

How do you take something that works at lab scale and make it work at commercial scale?

What they are checking: Whether they can reason through what changes at scale, like equipment and variability, and plan for it rather than hoping.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Conceive and implement novel experimental approaches to answer scientific questions. Investigate, identify, develop, and optimize new methods and techniques. Contribute to project science in area of expertise. Develop productive collaborations and communications with other groups across science disciplines. Responsibilities • Technical support of produce development and leadership at lab study scale up for commercial manufacturing of medical devices, drug device delivery systems, and combination products. • Cross-function engagement and team matrix working experiences in portfolios of drug delivery system product development projects. • Advances in scientific and engineering of medical device related experimental DOE design of experimental activities for the engagements with internal teams and external partners. • Supports the experimental lab execution, data generation and collection, results summary and slide deck preparation and presentation at weekly meeting. • Interface engagement of the project cross-function team and governance process and forward-looking evaluation of potential risk with timely problem solving. • Supports in tech transfer, process development, optimization, and scale-up activities. Work closely with contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) to ensure technical and operational alignment with company standards. • Plans, designs, executes, documents, and analyzes a regimen of tests to evaluate, verify and/or validate a system. • Provide knowledge in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, particularly small molecules and biological drug related device delivery systems and combination products • Interface with project and laboratory teams to develop DOE and functional tests, experimental protocols, and new target evaluations. • Assesses risks and creates test plans around risk priorities; analyzes results, states conclusions, and assesses residual risks after tests are complete; in addition, assesses adequacy of support for conclusions by test results. • Understands regulations, apply guidance and standards on design verification and design validation to test activities and work products; prepares documentation for compliance with standard operating procedures. • Develop and review technical documentation, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), batch records, and validation protocols. • Troubleshoot manufacturing challenges and support investigations into deviations or process failures. • Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, quality, regulatory, and supply chain teams to ensure seamless operations. • Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices in pharmaceutical product development and lab, pilot and scale up manufacturing and commercial production. • Preferred Ph.D. degree with 3-5 years of industry working experience in device-drug delivery system and combination product is preferred; post-doctor experience and high quality of Ph.D. candidates, and/or MS with 5-10 years of working experience in the field of biomedical, mechanical, chemical, materials science and engineering, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical and other related engineering fields. • Experience in developing medical devices, device-drug delivery systems, and/or combination products. Broad experience in product and process design, development, design verification and design validation and patient usability applications. • Prior experience and knowledge of pre-filled syringe and cartridge, wearable medical devices (OBDS), auto injectors, eye care, or eye droppers, aesthetics, and pumps will be helpful. • Knowledge and experience in Hyaluronic Acid (HA) materials in hydrogel family in the manufacturing process and material characterization are the plus for candidates to meet the requirements. • Knowledge and experience in wearable device battery (primary and rechargeable) in the design-material-process-characterizations are the plus for candidates to meet the requirements. • Experience in developing medical devices, device-drug delivery systems, and/or combination products. • Broad experience in product and process design, development, design verification and design validation and patient usability applications. • Product development experience and commercial scale manufacturing knowledge are a must have. • Strong understanding of pharma or medical device product development and capability of problem solving to unique problems with solutions. • Hands-on experience with lab study related to biomedical and mechanical design and development, drug product stability, and chemical reactions in primary containers. • Experience in multiple combination products with the focus on electro-mechanical pump devices and primary containers for drug delivery to the patient for disease therapies. • Excellent technical writing skills, data summary, technical report, slide presentation are required. • FDA and ISO standards, design history file, project management professional (PMP) experience will be helpful. • Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment. • Strong communication and collaboration skills to effectively engage with internal and external stakeholders. 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 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 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