1

Drug Discovery Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Assoc Analyst Business

Upland, CA · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

Salaried Discover a more connected career Discover a More Connected Career VCI Construction is ... Insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance ...

Material Handler 1 I

Fontana, CA · On-site

$17 - $20.50/hr

... the drug test results are in and the background is processing. PLEASE SUBMIT CANDIDATES THAT CAN ... We create an environment where creativity, invention and discovery become reality, each and every ...

Coordinator Office

Upland, CA · On-site

$19 - $20/hr

Office Employment Type: Hourly Discover a more connected career At VCI Construction, as an ... Insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance ...

Showing results 21-40

Drug Discovery information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$24

$74

$105

How much do drug discovery jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for drug discovery in Riverside, CA is $74.49, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60.67 and $87.02 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a drug discovery?

A Drug Discovery job involves researching and developing new pharmaceutical compounds to treat diseases. Professionals in this field work in multidisciplinary teams, including chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists, to identify and optimize potential drug candidates. The role includes tasks such as target identification, compound screening, preclinical testing, and collaboration with regulatory agencies. Drug discovery scientists often work in pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, or academic research institutions to advance new therapies from concept to clinical trials.

What does a typical day look like for someone working in drug discovery?

A typical day in Drug Discovery involves designing and conducting experiments, analyzing biological or chemical data, and collaborating with cross-functional teams such as medicinal chemistry, computational biology, and clinical research. You may participate in project meetings, present findings, troubleshoot experimental issues, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. The work environment is highly collaborative and often alternates between laboratory work, data interpretation, and strategic planning sessions. This dynamic routine allows professionals to contribute meaningfully at various stages of drug development, making the role both challenging and rewarding.

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

To thrive in Drug Discovery, you need a strong background in biology, chemistry, pharmacology, and data analysis, typically supported by an advanced degree such as a PhD or PharmD. Familiarity with laboratory automation, bioinformatics platforms, high-throughput screening systems, and drug development regulatory requirements is often expected. Critical thinking, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills in this field. These competencies enable professionals to efficiently develop innovative therapies while navigating complex scientific and regulatory challenges.

How to get a job in drug discovery?

To get a job in drug discovery, candidates typically need a relevant degree such as a degree in chemistry, biology, pharmacology, or related fields, along with laboratory experience and knowledge of drug development processes. Skills in data analysis, molecular modeling, and familiarity with laboratory tools are also valuable. Gaining experience through internships or research projects can improve employment prospects in this field.

What are popular job titles related to Drug Discovery jobs in Riverside, CA?

For Drug Discovery jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Drug Discovery jobs in Riverside, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Drug Discovery jobs in Riverside, CA are:

What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Drug Discovery jobs?

Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Drug Discovery job openings:

Infographic showing various Drug Discovery job openings in Riverside, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, and 14% Part Time. Highlights an 86% In-person, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $154,946 per year, or $74.5 per hour.

Senior R&D Quality Officer, Product Development Quality Assurance

AbbVie

Irvine, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago


AbbVie rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 101 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th 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

Purpose

This position is within the Product Development Quality Assurance (PDQA) organization and supports the timely review and disposition of batch documentation to help ensure uninterrupted clinical supply, advance the R&D pipeline, and maintain compliance with AbbVie standards and global GMP requirements. The role supports New Biological Entities (NBE), New Chemical Entities (NCE), and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) across all phases of development, partnering with Third Party Manufacturers (TPM), AbbVie commercial manufacturing sites, and cross-functional teams to ensure drug substance and drug product for clinical use meet quality and regulatory requirements.

Job Description

The Senior R&D Quality Officer is responsible for GMP batch documentation review and clinical supply disposition for NBE, NCE, and ATMP development programs. This role applies deep QA expertise and GMP knowledge to ensure quality oversight of manufacturing activities at TPMs and AbbVie commercial sites in accordance with global GMP requirements and AbbVie quality standards. The role also provides strategic quality leadership, cross-functional influence, and support for development and mentoring of junior PDQA quality staff.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Works effectively in a global environment, supporting the global Quality Assurance organization and cross-functional teams across multiple regions and time zones.
  • Review and approve batch manufacturing records (master and executed) and quality documentation for drug substance and drug product clinical supply batches at TPMs and AbbVie sites; make batch disposition and quality release decisions per SOPs, quality agreements, and GMP requirements; and apply risk-based quality assessments to support timely, defensible decisions and clinical supply continuity.
  • Assess the quality impact of manufacturing changes affecting drug substances or drug products, with a focus on NBE/NCE/ATMP clinical supply programs.
  • Author, review, and approve quality system documents, including SOPs and manufacturing instructions, to ensure accuracy and sustained GMP compliance.
  • Lead deviation and investigation activities for documentation errors, batch discrepancies, and process failures; author, review, and approve deviation/change control plans,  exception documentation, and CAPA plans; drive thorough root cause analysis, timely corrective action, and sustained batch record right-first-time improvements.
  • Support the development of quality agreements with TPMs and internal manufacturing sites; lead TPM and supplier quality oversight activities, including escalation, and qualification strategy discussions.
  • Provide quality approvals in materials management and electronic quality systems, ensuring traceability, data integrity, and compliance across the clinical supply chain.
  • Partner cross-functionally with Clinical Drug Supply Management, Development Sciences, and Operations to identify and mitigate quality and manufacturing risks early in the batch lifecycle, protect batch availability, and ensure clinical supply continuity; lead project team efforts to drive timely, risk-based resolution strategies.
  • Generate, monitor, and report key PDQA quality metrics including batch documentation cycle times, aging documents, deviation trends, repeat deviations, CAPA effectiveness, and release blockers; present data-driven findings and improvement recommendations to PDQA management.
  • Support inspection readiness activities, including document retrieval, participation in mock audits, and coordination of QA-related responses; ensure the PDQA function maintains a perpetual state of inspection readiness.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen GMP compliance, reduce review burden, and improve the overall reliability and quality oversight of clinical supply operations.
  • Provide mentoring and informal training to newer QA staff and cross-functional partners on batch documentation standards, GMP expectations, and quality system requirements; provide formal development support to junior PDQA colleagues.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, or Chemical Engineering; advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) may be considered in lieu of experience.
  • 4-6 years of progressive Quality Assurance experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or related life sciences industry; 8+ years preferred. Clinical supply, GMP manufacturing and Quality Assurance experience strongly preferred.
  • Working knowledge of global GMP requirements for drug substance and drug product manufacturing across biologics, small molecules, and ATMPs, including ICH Q7, ICH Q10, 21 CFR Parts 210/211, and relevant EU GMP Annexes.
  • Demonstrated experience reviewing and approving complex GMP batch records and associated quality documentation; familiarity with electronic batch record and quality management systems is a strong asset.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced development environment, maintaining rigorous attention to detail and consistently meeting disposition timelines critical to clinical trial supply.
  • Experience with TPM quality oversight, including supplier qualification, quality agreements, and performance monitoring.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate quality positions, influence cross-functional decisions, and partner effectively across levels.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving skills, with the ability to apply technical knowledge and sound quality judgment to independently resolve complex GMP issues, including time-sensitive situations impacting patient supply.
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 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 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


What AbbVie employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


AbbVie logo

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