Senior Level Scientist Jobs
Senior level scientist jobs place experienced researchers in charge of experimental design, scientific direction, and the teams or programs that drive results. Roles lean toward on-site and hybrid settings across Technology & Software, Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, and Consulting & Professional Services, with employers like AbbVie, Amazon, and GHD hiring at this level now.
Find Senior Level Scientist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 1,115+ Senior Level Scientist jobs
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, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
The Drug Product Development group within AbbVie is a global organization responsible for developing and characterizing drug product formulations and manufacturing processes for biologic therapeutics (antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), neurotoxins, and novel biologic formats) from preclinical development through clinical proof of concept.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Scientist II to join our team. This role is an onsite, lab-based position requiring daily, hands-on scientific work and face-to-face cross-functional collaboration. The successful candidate will serve as a technical expert in biologic drug product development, with a primary focus on developing formulations to enable First-in-Human (FIH) clinical studies, supporting drug product processing and filling activities, and evaluating clinical in-use compatibility and administration. This role is an onsite role in a lab-based function. To be successful candidates must enjoy and thrive in an onsite, highly collaborative lab environment with daily face-to-face cross functional interactions between scientists.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Formulation Development for FIH Programs
- Act as a technical expert in biologic (mAbcs, ADCs, LNPS, toxins) drug product formulation, independently designing, executing, and interpreting formulation development studies to enable FIH and early clinical studies in a phase-appropriate manner.
- Investigate, identify, develop, and optimize formulation and drug product development approaches (liquid and lyophilized) for biologic therapeutics, continuously seeking to improve existing laboratory analytical methods and assays to accelerate development timelines.
- Routinely read and apply relevant scientific literature to inform formulation approaches; contribute to the conceptual framework of scientific reports, presentations, and patents.
Drug Product Processing & Filling Support
- Execute drug product processing and filling activities, including hands-on operation of fillers, liquid handlers, lyophilizers, and related equipment as part of the Centralized Process Operations team.
- Independently design and conduct drug product process development studies to characterize manufacturability and ensure scalable, reproducible processes when necessary.
- Implement and innovate new experimental protocols and techniques to enhance process understanding and product quality.
Clinical In-Use Compatibility & Administration Evaluation
- Independently design, execute, and interpret in-use stability and compatibility studies to ensure accurate and safe clinical dose administration.
- Evaluate compatibility of biologic formulations with clinical administration devices and diluents to support FIH and early-phase clinical trial requirements.
- Modify experimental plans in response to emerging project needs, in alignment with project leads and key stakeholders.
Scientific Excellence & Collaboration
- Understand the broad objectives of the project and the role of drug product development in achieving those objectives; proactively adjust experimental plans as project priorities evolve.
- Set and meet experimental timelines through lab-based activities; demonstrate strong multitasking and planning skills in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Understand CMC and drug product development requirements; work efficiently and collaboratively across functions toward project timelines and goals.
- Learn, understand, and master new experimental techniques; act as a resource for colleagues.
- Generate high-quality data based on sound scientific principles; document results thoroughly in an electronic lab notebook.
- Effectively organize and present scientific plans and data in team meetings, formal presentations, and written reports.
- Understand and adhere to corporate standards regarding code of conduct, safety, appropriate handling of materials, controlled drug and radioactive compounds, and GxP compliance where applicable.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or equivalent with typically 7 or more years of relevant industry experience; or Master's Degree or equivalent education with typically 5 or more years of industry experience.
- Demonstrated experience in biologic formulation development for liquid and/or lyophilized drug products.
- Hands-on experience with analytical techniques used for protein characterization and stability testing (e.g., SEC, RP-HPLC, CE-SDS, icIEF, HIAC, MFI, DLS, SoloVPE or equivalent).
- Hands-on experience with drug product processing and filling equipment (e.g., fillers, liquid handlers, lyophilizers).
- Experience with in-use stability and/or clinical compatibility studies for biologic drug products preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and interpret critical experiments to answer scientific questions.
- Demonstrated ability to learn, understand, and master new experimental techniques and independently troubleshoot issues in the lab with good judgement.
- Detail-oriented and highly organized, with a strong ability to solve technical challenges.
- Ability to multitask and work within timelines, with strong planning and analytical skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to maintain detailed records in an electronic lab notebook.
- Ability to work collaboratively within and across scientific teams.
- Demonstrated scientific writing skills, including authorship of reports, presentations, and/or patents.
Additional Information
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 roleat the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on manyfactors 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 isearned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits thatare 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 andabsolute 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
See All 1,115+ Senior Level Scientist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Level Scientist JobsSenior Level Scientist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- AbbVie35
- Amazon31
- GHD19
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital18
- Merck17
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software323
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals177
- Consulting & Professional Services123
- Science & Research98
- Healthcare & Medical Services70
Senior Level Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level scientist job?
Employers hiring at the senior level look for scientists who have moved beyond executing experiments to shaping how research is done. Highlight projects where you owned the scientific direction, not just the bench work. Demonstrated ability to mentor junior scientists, collaborate across functions, and translate findings into business or clinical decisions gives candidates a clear edge at this stage.
Which companies hire senior level scientists?
Companies hiring senior level scientists right now include AbbVie, Amazon, and GHD, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a mix of large pharmaceutical and biotech companies, industrial manufacturers, and specialized research organizations that need experienced scientists who can lead programs independently.
Are there remote senior level scientist jobs?
Yes, though lab-dependent roles remain predominantly on-site. About 25% of senior level scientist openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, concentrated in data science, computational biology, regulatory affairs, and scientific consulting, where the work is analysis- and communication-driven rather than instrument-dependent.
What makes a scientist role senior level?
Senior level scientist roles are defined by ownership and scope. You are expected to design research strategy, not just carry out assigned experiments. These roles involve leading or coordinating other scientists, making independent technical decisions, and connecting scientific outcomes to broader organizational goals. The expectation shifts from doing the work to driving and accountable for the work.
Which industries hire the most senior level scientists?
Senior Level scientist roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, and Consulting & Professional Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Those sectors drive hiring at this level because they depend on deep scientific expertise to advance complex product pipelines, meet regulatory requirements, or sustain long-cycle research programs that require experienced leadership.