Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Jobs
Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist jobs are open across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology, and consumer products, from mid-level to director-adjacent roles, with specializations in FDA submissions, global regulatory strategy, and labeling compliance. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:
- Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of
- Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
- An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution
- Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree
- A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune
- A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists
Abbott Vascular provides innovative, minimally invasive and cost-effective products for treatment of vascular disease. Our extensive portfolio includes drug-eluting stents, bare metal stents, guide wires, balloon dilatation catheters, imaging catheters and software, vessel closure devices and peripheral stents.
The Opportunity
Abbott is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Principal Regulatory Affairs Specialist to join our Vascular Division team on-site in Santa Clara, CA or Temecula, CA. In this role, you will provide regulatory leadership for a portfolio of endovascular medical devices used in the treatment of peripheral artery disease and support global regulatory strategies throughout the product lifecycle. The Principal Regulatory Affairs Specialist will manage complex regulatory activities, including on-market product support, product development projects, lifecycle management initiatives, regulatory assessments, and global submissions. This individual will serve as a key regulatory partner to cross-functional teams and contribute to strategic decision-making by interpreting regulatory requirements, evaluating business risks, and developing practical regulatory solutions. The candidate will have demonstrated experience preparing and executing regulatory strategies, supporting interactions with regulatory authorities and notified bodies, and successfully obtaining regulatory approvals for medical devices in the U.S., E.U. and other international markets.
What You’ll Work On
- Develop and execute global regulatory strategies to support product changes, manufacturing transfers, lifecycle management activities, new product development, and business objectives.
- Independently prepare regulatory submissions and documentation for medical devices.
- Lead regulatory assessments for design, manufacturing, supplier, labeling, and process changes to determine global regulatory requirements and submission strategies.
- Review and approve engineering change orders, protocols, reports, specifications, risk management documentation, validation documents, and other project-related records.
- Support and maintain U.S. and international product registrations, licenses, approvals, and technical documentation throughout the product lifecycle.
- Serve as the regulatory lead on cross-functional project teams, providing strategic guidance throughout product development and commercialization activities.
- Interpret and apply global regulatory requirements, standards, guidance documents, and industry best practices to support business needs.
- Prepare and maintain FDA submissions, including 510(k)s, PMAs, PMA supplements, and other required submissions, as applicable.
- Support EU MDR regulatory activities, including Technical Documentation updates, change assessments, and notified body interactions.
- Collaborate with Regulatory Operations, Quality, Clinical, R&D, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Marketing, and other functional groups to ensure timely execution of regulatory deliverables.
- Analyze evolving regulatory requirements and provide recommendations regarding business impact, compliance risks, and implementation plans.
- Support regulatory authority and notified body inspections, audits, inquiries, and responses.
- Support all company initiatives in accordance with Quality Management Systems (QMS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Maintain compliance with FDA regulations, international regulations, company policies, procedures, and quality requirements.
- Maintain positive and cooperative communications and collaboration with all levels of employees, customers, contractors, and vendors.
- Act as liaison between the Company and the various regulatory agencies. Interfaces directly with FDA and Notified Bodies.
- May manage direct reports or serve as mentor to other regulatory affairs specialists
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Scientific discipline e.g. Chemistry, life Sciences, Biology (or equivalent vocational qualifications)
- Experienced in regulatory submissions for Pharmaceutical, In vitro diagnostic devices and/or medical devices.
- Experience of working within the requirements of 21 CFR 820, ISO 13485, the Medical Devices Directive (93/42/EEC) and/or the IVD Directive (98/79/EC).
Preferred Qualifications
- 6-8 years experience in medical device industry with experience working with Class II and/or Class III devices.
- Regulatory affairs professional experience supporting medical devices.
- Experience leading regulatory activities for cardiovascular, endovascular, peripheral vascular, implantable, catheter-based, or other complex medical device technologies.
- Certification is a plus (such as RAC from the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society).
- Must be able to manage multiple and competing priorities and manage programs with minimal oversight.
- Has a strong attention-to-detail
- Strong written, verbal, presentation, and organizational skills as well as analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Working knowledge of QSR, ISO, and EN standards. Strong working knowledge of regulatory requirements for US, EU (EU MDR), and other international geographies.
- Experience authoring and submitting Traditional, Special, or Abbreviated 510(k)s; PMAs; PMA supplements; IDEs; or other FDA submissions.
- Experience supporting EU MDR (2017/745) Technical Documentation, change notifications, clinical evaluation documentation, or notified body interactions.
- Knowledge of global regulatory requirements and submission pathways outside the United States and European Union; in particular highly regulated countries such as China, Canada, Australia, or Brazil.
- Experience participating in regulatory authority inspections, notified body audits, and responses to regulatory inquiries.
- Experience reviewing risk-based regulatory assessments and supporting product risk management activities in accordance with ISO 14971.
- Experience reviewing clinical data.
- Experience with electronic document management systems (EDMS), product lifecycle management (PLM) systems, eQMS platforms, and change control processes.
- Ability to work in a highly matrixed and geographically diverse business environment.
- Ability to work effectively within a team and as an individual contributor in a fast-paced, changing environment.
- Experience managing direct reports or dotted line manager to regulatory affairs specialists
- Ability to leverage, manage and/or engage others to accomplish projects.
- Applies critical thinking to multitask, prioritize and meet deadlines in a timely manner.
- Ability to identify risk areas and escalate issues as appropriate.
Apply Now
Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.
The base pay for this position is $86,700.00 – $173,300.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsSenior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Revolution Medicines18

- Abbott16

- Gilead Sciences9

- Stryker8

- Boehringer Ingelheim7

Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals74
- Healthcare & Medical Services15
- Medical Devices14
- Consulting & Professional Services8
- Distribution & Wholesale6
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior regulatory affairs specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, chemistry, engineering, or a related field required
- Five or more years of regulatory affairs experience in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or biotechnology
- Direct experience preparing and submitting FDA regulatory filings such as 510(k)s, NDAs, or BLAs
- Proficiency with eCTD publishing and regulatory information management systems such as Veeva Vault
- Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) from RAPS preferred or required for senior-level roles
- Strong working knowledge of FDA regulations, ICH guidelines, and applicable CFR sections
Tips for Your Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to submission types
Hiring managers scan for specific submission experience, whether that's 510(k)s, PMAs, NDAs, or BLAs. List each type you've led or contributed to by name so your resume clears keyword filters and signals hands-on regulatory depth immediately.
Highlight your regulatory database proficiency
Many postings require experience with Veeva Vault, RIMS, or eCTD publishing tools. Name each system you've used and describe the context, such as managing submissions or maintaining registration records, so recruiters don't have to guess.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists senior regulatory affairs specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Match your cover letter to the product stage
Regulatory work at a pre-market startup differs sharply from post-market compliance at an established manufacturer. Reference whether you prefer early-stage submissions or lifecycle management, and connect that preference directly to where the company's product sits.
Prepare case studies around agency interactions
Interview panels often ask how you handled an FDA deficiency letter, responded to a clinical hold, or negotiated label language. Walk through one real example with a clear problem, your specific action, and the outcome, without relying on vague teamwork language.
Negotiate based on scope, not just title
Senior regulatory affairs specialist roles vary widely in authority over strategy versus execution. Before accepting an offer, confirm whether you own submissions end-to-end or support them, since that scope difference affects both your daily work and your next career move.
Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most senior regulatory affairs specialists?
The companies hiring the most senior regulatory affairs specialists right now include Revolution Medicines, Abbott, and Gilead Sciences, with the largest share of openings in California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Demand is consistently strongest at mid-to-large pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers with active product pipelines.
How many senior regulatory affairs specialist jobs are remote?
About 63% of senior regulatory affairs specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting a shift toward flexible arrangements across the life sciences sector. Roles focused on regulatory strategy, labeling review, and post-market surveillance tend to be more remote-compatible than positions requiring on-site lab access or direct manufacturing oversight.
How do you become a senior regulatory affairs specialist?
You typically start with a bachelor's degree in a life science, pharmacy, or engineering field, then move into an entry-level regulatory affairs role such as regulatory coordinator or associate specialist. From there you build hands-on submission experience across one or more product types, pursue your RAC credential through RAPS to demonstrate regulatory fluency, and take on increasing responsibility for leading submissions and advising cross-functional teams before stepping into a senior title.
Can you get hired as a senior regulatory affairs specialist without direct regulatory experience?
It's difficult to land a senior role without some regulatory foundation, but candidates from adjacent fields like clinical affairs, quality assurance, or medical writing do make the transition. The most effective approach is to identify where your existing work touched regulatory processes, such as supporting audits, reviewing labeling, or contributing to submissions, then frame that experience explicitly rather than expecting hiring managers to connect the dots on your behalf.
What does the senior regulatory affairs specialist interview process look like?
Most processes begin with a recruiter screen focused on your submission history and regulatory systems experience, followed by a panel interview with regulatory leadership and cross-functional partners from clinical, quality, or legal. You'll likely be asked to walk through a complex submission or an agency interaction you managed. Some employers add a written exercise where you review a mock deficiency letter or draft a regulatory strategy summary to assess your technical judgment.
Where can I find and apply to senior regulatory affairs specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to senior regulatory affairs specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and target product area, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
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