Principal Research Scientist I, Peptide Engineer

AbbVie
North Chicago, IL

Company Description

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 – immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at . Follow @abbvie on X , Facebook , Instagram , YouTube , LinkedIn and Tik Tok .

Job Description

Chemical Engineers support API projects through all the phases of late stage development, commercialization, product life cycle. This position will be responsible to ensure processes can be run safely, addressing scale-up issues and developing and implementing robust API process steps from the lab to a manufacturing environment. Once commercialized, the process engineer is responsible for continuous improvement activities, technical transfer to manufacturing sites, and resolution of technical manufacturing issues in a commercial setting. Effective cross functional interactions with quality and regulatory functions and on-site manufacturing personnel is key for successful job performance.

Purpose:

Lead research and/or project activities with a group of scientists within the individual’s area of expertise by effectively mentoring, guiding, and/or supervising scientific personnel. Independently conceive, execute, and communicate novel multi-disciplinary research or development strategies that achieve project and area goals. Serve as a lead scientist on his/her own project and contribute scientific insights into multiple other projects. Oversee the design, implementation, and optimization of peptide synthesis processes from development to commercialization. 

Major Responsibilities: 

  • Conceptualizes and implements approaches using combinations of engineering scientific principles.
  • Effectively function as a principal investigator, generating original technical ideas and research or development strategies.
  • Utilizes knowledge of engineering, literature, and experience to guide decision for complex situations.
  • Independently responsible for project science within his/her area of expertise on one or more project teams.
  • Make significant contributions to project team through lab based, or other work environments, activities.
  • Generate new scientific proposals and lead those efforts. Anticipate and critically evaluate scientific or regulatory advances or competitive threats and respond with appropriate new strategies.
  • Recognized and sought out as an expert in his/her discipline within the company and possibly externally.
  • Applies extensive, advanced scientific knowledge to multidisciplinary projects. 
  • Assures experimental quality through sound experimental design and provides advice on experimental design.
  • Implements new technical alternatives for research from literature review, industry knowledge, and development experience. 
  • Applies computer skills (including word processing, spreadsheets, instrumentation related to corporate network systems and advanced technical software) and author advanced techniques or models (e.g., programming and control algorithms or simulations).
  • Applies advanced technical writing skills to produce reports and documents; write independently; evaluates the writing of others. Utilizes numerous analytical instruments, trains others in their operation. 
  • Anticipates, recognizes, and resolves problems. Functions as an expert in technical/functional areas.

Level of Leadership Activities: 

  • Leads resolution of compliance quality issues and documents drafting.
  • Presents results of projects both internally and externally. 
  • Reviews and critiques presentations for others.
  • Establishes project operation criteria and technical standards for excellence. Generates new product ideas.
  • Prepares and aligns impact goals with department divisional goals. 
  • Actively participates in cross-functional technology transfer teams including team members from development and manufacturing. 

Level of Interpersonal Skill:

  • Functions as a technical role model and resource/consultant to others. 
  • Interacts and leads cross functional teams and shares information. Has demonstrated technical leadership in a multi-disciplinary environment.
  • Strong verbal, written and presentation skills. 

 

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 15 + years of experience,
  • Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 12+ years of experience,
  • PhD or equivalent education and typically 6+ years of experience,
  • Possess thorough theoretical and practical understanding of own scientific discipline

Desired skills:

  • Conceives, designs, conducts research and development for major process to be commercialized.
  • Leads the development of processes and programs to optimize or achieve the plant efficiency, product quality, cost control, customer specification or product design changes.
  • Leads the technical investigative troubleshooting of product failures and recommends remediation direction.
  • Primary author of publications, presentations, regulatory documents, and/or primary inventor of patents.
  • Experience and/or education with API and/or natural product processes in pharmaceuticals. 
  • Peptide development and/or manufacturing experience 

 

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 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. ​

  • This job is eligible to participate in our long-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

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

Posted 2026-01-30

Recommended Jobs

Patient Access Representative

Trinity Health
Berwyn, IL

Employment Type Full time Shift Day Shift Description Loyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago's western su…

View Details
Posted 2026-01-15

RN - Cath Lab

Carle Health
Urbana, IL

Overview: The staff Registered Nurse (RN) is a professional caregiver who assumes responsibility for a group of patients for a designated time frame and provides care to these patients via the utiliza…

View Details
Posted 2026-01-12

Assisted Living Licensed Practical Nurse | PRN

Lutheran Life Communities
Arlington Heights, IL

Start a new career as a Licensed Practical Nurse | PRN at The Lutheran Home Hearthstone Assisted Living! At The Lutheran Home, you will start a satisfying career in a faith-based, mission-driven or…

View Details
Posted 2026-01-15

Associate Director Commodity Management & Sourcing, Heat Exchangers

Carrier
Prospect Heights, IL

: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Florida Georgia New York, New York Job ID 30175648 Job Category Supply Chain Country: United States of America Location: CAF77: CCS - CIB 13995 P…

View Details
Posted 2026-01-27

Transportation Triage & Visibility Coordinator

Pactiv Evergreen
Lake Forest, IL

Company Overview: Why Choose Us? Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carry…

View Details
Posted 2026-01-31

Construction Engineer III

Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
Rockford, IL

Your future position: Construction Engineer III Location: Rockford, IL Why you should join our team! Why Baxter & Woodman? At Baxter & Woodman, both seasoned professionals and recent graduates find…

View Details
Posted 2026-01-28

Sr Scientist, R&D - Packaging Dev

Kraft Heinz Company
Glenview, IL

All Posting Locations: Glenview, IL, US Job Functions: Research & Development Date Published: January 14, 2026 Ref#: R-99306 Remote, Hybrid or Onsite: Hybrid ABOUT THE ROLE …

View Details
Posted 2026-01-21

Crew Member

Dunkin' Baskin - River Grove
River Grove, IL

Description Perks Include: Flexible Scheduling, Free Food, Tips, Free GED Programs, Possible Tuition Reimbursement Dunkin’ Donuts crew members perform a multitude of tasks. Crew members may per…

View Details
Posted 2025-11-03

Vice President, Carrier Sales - National Accounts

Gallagher
Rolling Meadows, IL

At Gallagher Bassett, we're there when it matters most because helping people through challenging moments is more than just our job, it’s our purpose.  Every day, we help clients navigate complex…

View Details
Posted 2026-01-31

Customer Service Representative

Telus Digital
Decatur, IL

Description and Requirements Application Deadline: 3/31/2025 Become a Customer Service Hero! Join Our Dynamic Contact Center Team Are you passionate about turning cu…

View Details
Posted 2026-01-28