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Drug Development Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Mckesson

Infusion Research Nurse - PRN

Denver, CO · On-site

$40/hr

As the I n fusion Research Nurse for the Drug Development Unit your primary responsibility is to treat and manage patients enrolled on clinical trial. * You will closely follow study patient(s ...

McKesson

Research Treatment Nurse - Oncology

Denver, CO · On-site

$83K - $100K/yr

As the Research Treatment Nurse for the Drug Development Unit your primary responsibility is to treat and manage patients enrolled on clinical trial. * You will closely follow study patient(s ...

McKesson

Research Treatment Nurse - Oncology

Denver, CO · On-site

$83K - $100K/yr

As the Research Treatment Nurse for the Drug Development Unit your primary responsibility is to treat and manage patients enrolled on clinical trial. * You will closely follow study patient(s ...

McKesson

Infusion Research Nurse - PRN

Denver, CO · On-site

$40/hr

As the I n fusion Research Nurse for the Drug Development Unit your primary responsibility is to treat and manage patients enrolled on clinical trial. * You will closely follow study patient(s ...

McKesson

Infusion Research Nurse - PRN

Denver, CO · On-site

$40/hr

As the I n fusion Research Nurse for the Drug Development Unit your primary responsibility is to treat and manage patients enrolled on clinical trial. * You will closely follow study patient(s ...

MCKESSON Careers

Infusion Research Nurse - PRN

Denver, CO · On-site

$40 - $52/hr

As the I n fusion Research Nurse for the Drug Development Unit your primary responsibility is to treat and manage patients enrolled on clinical trial. * You will closely follow study patient(s ...

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All JobsDrug Development JobsDrug Development Jobs in Colorado

Drug Development information

See Colorado salary details

$34.7K

$81.4K

$139.9K

How much do drug development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for drug development in Colorado is $81,428.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,500.00 and $95,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What career develops drugs?

A career in drug development typically involves roles such as pharmacologist, medicinal chemist, clinical researcher, or regulatory affairs specialist. These professionals work in laboratories, research institutions, or pharmaceutical companies to discover, test, and bring new drugs to market, often requiring knowledge of biology, chemistry, and regulatory processes.

What is the difference between Drug Development vs Pharmacologist?

AspectDrug DevelopmentPharmacologist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related fields; often requires experience in clinical trialsDegree in Pharmacology, Pharmacy, or related fields; may require licensing or certification for clinical practice
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, pharmaceutical companies, clinical trial sitesResearch labs, hospitals, academic institutions, regulatory agencies
Industry UsageDeveloping new drugs, overseeing clinical trials, regulatory submissionsStudying drug effects, mechanisms, safety, and efficacy; advising on drug use

While both roles are integral to the pharmaceutical industry, Drug Development focuses on creating and bringing new drugs to market through research, testing, and regulatory processes. Pharmacologists primarily study how drugs interact with biological systems, often working in research or clinical settings to understand drug effects and safety. The two roles often collaborate but differ in their core responsibilities and career focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in drug development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Drug Development, you need a strong background in pharmaceutical sciences, biology, or chemistry, often supported by an advanced degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD, or MSc). Familiarity with regulatory compliance, clinical trial management systems, and data analysis software such as SAS or R is typically required. Excellent problem-solving, project management, and cross-functional communication skills help professionals excel in this multidisciplinary field. These competencies ensure that new drugs are developed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with regulatory standards.

What is drug development?

Drug development is the process of bringing a new pharmaceutical drug to market. It involves several stages, including drug discovery, preclinical research, clinical trials, and regulatory approval. Each stage is designed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of the drug before it can be made available to patients. The entire process can take several years and requires collaboration between scientists, clinicians, regulatory agencies, and pharmaceutical companies.

How much do drug development professionals make?

Drug development professionals, including roles such as research scientists and clinical trial managers, typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Entry-level positions may start lower, while senior roles with advanced skills and certifications can exceed this range.

How do you get into drug development?

To enter drug development, individuals typically need a background in life sciences such as biology, chemistry, or pharmacology, often supported by a relevant bachelor's or advanced degree. Gaining experience through internships, research projects, or entry-level roles in pharmaceutical or biotech companies can be valuable, along with developing skills in laboratory techniques, data analysis, and regulatory compliance.

What are the typical stages of collaboration between different teams in a drug development role?

In drug development, professionals regularly collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, including research scientists, clinical trial coordinators, regulatory affairs specialists, and manufacturing experts. Early stages involve close work with research and discovery teams to identify promising compounds, followed by coordination with clinical teams during trial phases, and finally with regulatory and production teams as the drug moves toward approval and commercialization. Effective communication and cross-functional teamwork are essential, as each stage relies on timely data sharing and joint problem-solving to navigate complex challenges.

What job categories do people searching Drug Development jobs in Colorado look for?

The top searched job categories for Drug Development jobs in Colorado are:

What cities in Colorado are hiring for Drug Development jobs?

Cities in Colorado with the most Drug Development job openings:

Drug Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drug Development job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,428 per year, or $39.1 per hour.

Senior Process Engineer, Drug Product Development

Umoja Biopharma

Louisville, CO • On-site

$108K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Umoja Biopharma is an industry-leading biotech with locations in Seattle, WA and Louisville, CO, focused on transforming the treatment of cancer with a novel integrated immunotherapy platform. Our vision is to develop off-the-shelf therapies capable of treating any tumor, any time. We are a diverse and growing team working in brand-new facilities in downtown Seattle, Washington and Louisville, Colorado, and we are looking for innovative thinkers who are excited by groundbreaking science and technology, and passionate about squaring up to the challenges inherent to cutting-edge drug development. We are committed to our core values and principles that support our overall mission and strongly invite applications from enthusiastic individuals who share our commitment and help position Umoja to deliver on our goals. We at Umoja believe in the importance of stories; we are looking for great people to join our team to help us create more stories for ourselves, for you, and most importantly for patients and their families.
Umoja Biopharma - Your Body. Your Hope. Your Cure.
POSITION SUMMARY
Umoja is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to join the Drug Product Development group within our Process Sciences team. This role will lead the development, scale-up, and tech transfer of lentiviral vector drug product and drug substance processes from lab to GMP scale (250 mL to 200 L), applying Quality by Design (QbD) principles, and supporting transitions through multiple clinical stages. A successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of fill-finish strategies and experience with internal and external tech transfer activities.
This is a fully onsite role based out of our Louisville, CO location.
CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES
Specific responsibilities include:
  • Serve as technical lead for process development and tech transfer activities for lentiviral vector drug substance and drug product fill processes.
  • Represent Process Sciences on CMC program teams, contributing to the process strategy, risk identification and assessment, and project management for Ph1 and beyond.
  • Operate, troubleshoot, and improve lab and production scale processes, consumables, and equipment for drug substance filtration and drug product fill-finish.
  • Evaluate and implement new equipment and process analytical technology (PAT) solutions.
  • Design and execute experiments to support program teams, process characterization, control strategy, and process performance qualification (PPQ).
  • Analyze, interpret, and effectively present data and findings to diverse audiences, including technical peers, external partners, and strategic audiences. This will include experimental, correlative, as well as, continuous process monitoring/trending data.
  • Implement and improve data workflows using tools like Benchling, JMP, and Ganymede.
  • Collaborate closely with the Process Sciences team (upstream, downstream, and optimization), analytical development, manufacturing, supply chain, non-clinical, clinical, research teams, and contract manufacturers.
  • Author technical documentation including SOPs, process descriptions, batch records, IND sections, development reports, and requirement specifications (MRS/URS).
  • Provide person-in-plant (PIP) support during GMP campaigns, mentor junior staff, and be a qualified trainer for Drug Substance and Drug Product processes.
  • Support new product introduction (NPI) activities.
  • Other duties as assigned.

The successful candidate will have:
  • BS/MS in chemical engineering, biochemistry, virology, or related field with a minimum of 5/3 years of relevant experience respectively.
  • Expertise in TFF, NFF, and process analytical technologies, including hands-on experience with the following systems, Repligen, AMBR Crossflow, and sterile filtration operation. Experience with novel filtration methods is desired.
  • Experience with experimental design, planning, execution, and complex data organization and analysis. Specific experience working with Benchling, JMP, Ganymede, INVERT, Python, Smartsheet, and data historians is a plus.
  • Experience with early and late phase implementation of process improvements.
  • Experience with early-phase clinical development and commercial readiness.
  • Experience with QbD, process risk assessments, and process characterization.
  • Proficiency in tech transfer, GMP operations, process description and batch record authoring, GDP, change control, and ALCOA+ principles.
  • Strong communication, collaboration, and technical writing skills.
  • Ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced, cross-functional, and dynamic environment and perform tasks across a variety of programs.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Working knowledge of lentiviral vector processes, from upstream cell culture through drug substance and drug product storage and filling processes (e.g. Bioreactors, Repligen TFF systems, Pendotech NFF systems, membrane and monolith chromatography) is strongly preferred.
  • Working knowledge of lentiviral vector analytical methods (e.g., flow cytometry, PCR, ELISA, HPLC).
  • Experience managing fill-finish CDMOs.
  • Experience with fill-finish capital projects.
  • Experience identifying and implementing creative and novel strategies to viral vector purification processes.
  • Experience with Aseptic Process Simulations and Hazard Identification Tools risk tools.
  • Familiarity with designing closed-process purifications.

Physical Requirements:
  • Ability to work onsite 5 days/week at our Louisville, CO location.
  • 100% compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements in laboratory environments for wet lab work, including gloves, protective clothing, and eye safety glasses.
  • Perform physical tasks required for the role, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, sitting, working your hands in a biosafety cabinet, and occasionally moving materials up to 50 pounds.
  • Ability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed.
  • Ability to travel on occasion.

Salary Range: $108,400 - $133,900
Benefits Offerings
Umoja Biopharma offers its employees competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans. Additionally, we offer Umojians access to a 401k plan through Fidelity, with a 100% match up to their first 4% deferral. Umoja also provides a generous Paid Time Off policy, employee commuter benefits, and cell phone stipend. For a full breakdown of our benefits offerings, please see the Benefits section of our website.

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