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Drug Development Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

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Drug Development information

See Reston, VA salary details

$34.3K

$80.6K

$138.4K

How much do drug development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for drug development in Reston, VA is $80,563.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,900.00 and $94,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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 job categories do people searching Drug Development jobs in Reston, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Drug Development jobs in Reston, VA are:

What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Drug Development jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most Drug Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Drug Development job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,563 per year, or $38.7 per hour.

Associate General Counsel, R&D Innovation Legal

AbbVie

Washington, DC • On-site

$182K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 8 days ago


AbbVie rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 101 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

16th of 86 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

Company Description
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
As an Associate General Counsel in the R&D Innovation Legal group, you will support AbbVie's R&D organization in navigating enterprise-critical issues in an evolving legal and regulatory environment as we work to bring new, innovative products to patients. This individual will be motivated by the opportunity to address and solve emerging issues with a strategic and creative business-oriented approach and provide expert counsel on decisions impacting our long-term pipeline strategies.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and provide strategic counsel to senior leaders within the Legal and Regulatory Strategy organizations on legal regulatory issues that impact pipeline development and product innovation. Assigned matters have significant impact to AbbVie overall. This is a role advising the R&D organization and not on FDA promotional considerations or advising the Commercial organization.
Provides legal support to Regulatory Affairs on critical and strategic regulatory filings and agency engagements relating to R&D issues impacting our investigational and on-market drug products.
Willing to develop an understanding of the Inflation Reduction Act and other "Most Favored Nation" policies to provide strategic counsel to the R&D organization.
Educates other AbbVie legal departments and business stakeholders on emerging laws, regulations and industry trends impacting AbbVie portfolio.
Proactively identifies highly complex legal issues related to assigned matters, develops creative and alternative solutions, and implements resolution.
Adopts a business oriented and creative approach to problem solving.
Identifies unmet needs and future legal issues and proactively proposes strategies to optimize outcomes and results for the company.
Advises Vice Presidents, Presidents and Officers. Recognized by these clients as both expert in substantive area and relied upon for individual advice.
To be successful in this role:
  • You offer specialized FDA regulatory and drug development experience.

You have demonstrated success in providing strategic counsel to leaders within the pharmaceutical industry.
Qualifications
  • J.D. and currently admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state.
  • Minimum of 10+ years (12+ preferred) of relevant experience practicing as a member of a nationally recognized law firm in a life sciences practice, practicing in-house at a pharmaceutical company or practicing as an attorney for the FDA, or any combination of the above (experience working in-house or at FDA is preferred).
  • Individual will have substantial expertise in FDA regulations and guidance around innovator drug development, including on regulatory exclusivities, orphan drug designations, clinical trial design and data requirements and combination products, and have familiarity with policies to advance innovation in the industry.
  • Experience working for, or having interactions with, government health authorities is highly desirable.
  • Familiarity with the Inflation Reduction Act, Most Favored Nation and CMS policies and their impact on drug development strategies is a plus.
  • Knowledge and understanding of pharmaceutical laws and regulations to help business clients assess issues in a highly regulated landscape.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and lead cross-functional teams collaboratively.
  • Ability to adapt to a changing environment while handling multiple priorities.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills. Comfortable presenting complicated information accurately and concisely to senior leaders.
  • To enable success in the role, an individual must be able to be in the office 3 days/week at our offices in North Chicago, IL or the Washington, DC metro area.

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 postingbased 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 orless 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 paidand 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

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About AbbVie

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines 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, eye care, virology, women's health, and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

North Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

2013