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Drug Development Jobs in Worcester, MA (NOW HIRING)

Vice President, Biometrics

Waltham, MA · On-site

$323 - $357/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... drug development within a biotech environment. You will serve as the statistical voice of the organization -- shaping the quantitative foundation of every program in our pipeline. This role is based ...

Director, CPMS Oncology

Waltham, MA · On-site

$188.10 - $313.50/hr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Promoting model-informed drug discovery and development through external collaboration, journal publication and conference presentation Why You? Basic Qualification We are seeking professionals with ...

Showing results 21-40

Drug Development information

See Worcester, MA salary details

$32.9K

$77.3K

$132.7K

How much do drug development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for drug development in Worcester, MA is $77,270.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,400.00 and $90,300.00 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 are popular job titles related to Drug Development jobs in Worcester, MA?

For Drug Development jobs in Worcester, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Drug Development jobs in Worcester, MA look for?

The top searched job categories for Drug Development jobs in Worcester, MA are:

What cities near Worcester, MA are hiring for Drug Development jobs?

Cities near Worcester, MA with the most Drug Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Drug Development job openings in Worcester, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $77,270 per year, or $37.1 per hour.

Sr. Process Development Engineer - OSD

Alkermes

Waltham, MA • On-site

$140K - $154K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description


Join the Alkermes Process Development team as Senior Engineer, where you will provide technical leadership and support the development of innovative small molecule pharmaceutical dosage forms. You will operate within cross functional teams to ensure alignment during drug product development, join the CMC teams, and provide leadership for development teams. You will design and execute experimental studies to develop well understood, robust oral solid dosage manufacturing processes. Key duties are process design, equipment set-up, troubleshooting equipment, running experiments, collecting/evaluating data to identify and implement process/equipment improvements reducing waste and increasing process reliability. This position requires experience in oral solid dosage processing techniques used for manufacture of dosage forms (such as milling, blending, wet and dry granulation, compression, encapsulation and coating). You will also lead process development activities and clinical manufacturing in a GMP facility for oral solid dosage forms, maintaining GMP standards.
Responsibilities
  • Act as a subject matter expert in oral solid dosage processing, quickly adopt new technologies, and provide technical guidance, training, and direction to teams.
  • Lead lab-scale process development and ensure effective knowledge transfer to pilot-scale manufacturing through reports, presentations, and technical collaboration.
  • Design and execute experiments to deepen process knowledge, optimize performance, and improve product robustness.
  • Support the operation of a GMP clinical manufacturing facility, enabling diverse processing capabilities and supporting early-stage development activities.
  • Oversee batch manufacturing activities, ensuring adherence to safety, quality, and documentation standards while producing GMP batches at multiple scales.
  • Responsible for the creation of batch records, change controls and standard operating procedures for area of responsibility with a strong focus on efficiency and continuous improvement.
  • Author CMC sections for IND, NDA, and other regulatory filings.
  • Develop process trains and flows, ensuring scientifically driven, scalable, and reproducible processes with well-defined critical parameters.
  • Maintaining compliance with all aspects of cGMP, safety and environmental legislation and company policies.
  • Present technical data to stakeholders, communicate risks and solutions, and collaborate with formulators, engineers, safety, and quality teams.
  • Mentor and train junior staff.

Qualifications
  • Ph.D. and 3+ years in engineering/scientific discipline; M.S. and 10+ years of related experience; B.S. and 15+ years of related experience in pharmaceutical solid oral dosage processing
  • Subject matter proficiency across a range of processing techniques such as, powder blending, encapsulation, granulation, compression, and coating.
  • Demonstrated ability to work successfully in a fast-paced team/matrix environment as well as independently manage priorities and maintain timelines for multiple activities.
  • Demonstrated collaborative leadership, strong people skills, and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrated experience in small molecule process development, scale up and technical transfer.

Preferred Requirements:
  • Knowledge of design of experiments, data analysis and data interpretation for process development studies.
  • Solid understanding of the drug development lifecycle and the critical role of process development, including its impact on product quality, scalability, and timelines.
  • Demonstrated expertise in mechanical and chemical engineering principles applied to general process systems and equipment, including specialized knowledge of oral solid dosage (OSD) drug manufacturing systems and associated equipment.
  • "Hands-on" ability to install and troubleshoot instrumentation and equipment. Strong knowledge of process safety and risk assessments.
  • Technical problem-solving ability utilizing current research and technologies.
  • Understanding of ICH, FDA, and USP guidelines and the ability to apply these guidelines in context of the stage of drug development.
  • Previous experience with Process Analytical Technology and drug product formulation is preferred.
  • Minimal travel required (10-15%) to visit manufacturing facilities.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $140,000 to $154,000. In addition, this position is eligible for an annual performance pay bonus. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, training, knowledge, and experience. Alkermes offers a competitive benefits package. Additional details can be found on our careers website: www.alkermes.com/careers#working-here
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About Us
Why join Team Alkermes?
Alkermes applies its decades of deep neuroscience expertise to develop medicines designed to help people living with complex and difficult-to-treat psychiatric and neurological disorders. A global biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Ireland with U.S. locations in Massachusetts and Ohio, we seek to make a meaningful difference in the way people manage their diseases. We have a portfolio of proprietary commercial products for the treatment of alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder and narcolepsy, and a pipeline of clinical and preclinical candidates in development for various psychiatric and neurological disorders.
We are proud to have been recognized as an employer of choice by many national organizations. In 2024 and 2025, we were certified as a Great Place to Work in the U.S. and named one of Massachusetts' Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe, a Best Place to Work in Greater Cincinnati by the Cincinnati Business Courier and recognized as a Best Place to Work in BioPharma by Fortune Magazine.
Alkermes, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any qualified applicant or employee because of race, creed, color, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, application for military service or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Alkermes also complies with all work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Alkermes is an E-Verify employer.