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Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist Jobs in Chicago, IL

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Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist information

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How much do full time downstream process development scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for full time downstream process development scientist in Chicago, IL is $39.83, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.23 and $47.55 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a full time downstream process development scientist do?

A Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist is responsible for designing, optimizing, and scaling up processes that purify biological products such as proteins, antibodies, or vaccines after they are produced in cells or microbes. This role involves developing and improving techniques like filtration, chromatography, and centrifugation to ensure high purity and yield of the final product. The scientist also conducts experiments, analyzes data, and collaborates with cross-functional teams to transfer processes from the lab to manufacturing. Their work is critical for producing safe and effective biopharmaceuticals on a large scale.

What is the difference between Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist vs Downstream Process Engineer?

AspectFull Time Downstream Process Development Scientist
Primary FocusDesigning, optimizing, and developing downstream purification processes for biopharmaceuticals
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or related field; experience in process development
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, R&D settings, collaborative teams in biotech or pharma companies
Typical ResponsibilitiesProcess scale-up, method validation, troubleshooting, documentation

While both roles involve downstream bioprocessing, the Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist focuses on process development and optimization, whereas the Downstream Process Engineer typically handles process implementation and manufacturing support. The scientist role emphasizes research and development, while the engineer role is more operational. Candidates often hold similar degrees and certifications, but their daily tasks and focus areas differ.

What are some typical challenges faced by a full time downstream process development scientist, and how can they be addressed?

Downstream Process Development Scientists often encounter challenges such as optimizing protein purification processes to achieve high yield and purity, troubleshooting unexpected impurities, and scaling up processes from laboratory to manufacturing scale. These tasks require strong problem-solving skills, meticulous attention to detail, and effective collaboration with upstream teams, analytical scientists, and manufacturing staff. Addressing these challenges involves staying current with new purification technologies, maintaining robust documentation, and participating in cross-functional meetings to ensure seamless process integration and regulatory compliance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a full time downstream process development scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist, you need a strong background in biochemical engineering, protein purification, and analytical techniques, typically supported by a degree in biochemistry, biotechnology, or a related field. Proficiency with chromatography systems (e.g., HPLC, FPLC), filtration technologies, and knowledge of regulatory and quality systems like GMP is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and troubleshoot process challenges. These skills are crucial for developing robust purification processes that ensure product quality, regulatory compliance, and efficient production in biopharmaceutical environments.
What are the most commonly searched types of Downstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Downstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL? For Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Full Time Downstream Process Development Scientist job openings:

Sr Scientist I, Automation Development

AbbVie

North Chicago, IL • On-site

$96K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago


AbbVie rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 100 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th 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
The Molecular Profiling and Drug Delivery (MPDD) function within the Small Molecule CMC organization is accountable for a broad range of deliverables across various stages of drug discovery and development. During lead optimization and through candidate selection, MPDD scientists utilize state of the art automation and computational tools supported by expertise in biopharmaceutics, drug delivery, and solid-state chemistry to collaboratively progress candidates with higher probability of success into development and advise clinical formulation strategy. From candidate selection through clinical proof of concept and product launch, MPDD scientists work in cross functional teams to identify the commercial solid form of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and establish structure-property-performance correlations to help deliver robust commercial processes and align control strategies across drug substance and product. They also transition drug substance isolation processes and relevant physical characterization methods to commercial manufacturing sites and work within teams to ensure successful regulatory submissions.
Drug Delivery scientists within AbbVie's MPDD organization work collaboratively with other functions within Development Sciences and Discovery to conduct developability assessment to select molecules with higher probability of success for clinical development and eventual commercialization. This includes profiling of physicochemical properties, development of preclinical formulations, identifying solutions to in vivo absorption challenges, and advancement of novel drug delivery strategies across multiple routes of administration that are aligned with program target product profiles and downstream partners. Modalities of interest include traditional small molecules as well as complex chemically synthesized modalities such as PROTACs and peptides. In this role, you will work in cross-functional teams in matrixed environments and engage in multidisciplinary problem solving.
Job Description
AbbVie's MPDD organization is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and collaborative scientist with expertise in chemical automation, assay development, and integrated workflow design for a Senior Scientist I position. The primary role of this position is to develop and implement automated and data-enabled workflows that accelerate decision-making and improve throughput in early development sciences. This individual will contribute to the profiling of physiochemical properties, screening and development of preclinical formulations, and the advancement of platform workflows for emerging modalities of interest. This role will work closely with cross-functional partners across discovery and development sciences to build and optimize integrated capabilities that support faster, data-driven, more efficient pipeline progression. The successful candidate will have strong hands-on experience in assay development, automation, and the generation and interpretation of physicochemical data to inform developability. Experience with preclinical formulation strategies, workflow optimization, and enabling technologies for novel or complex modalities is highly desirable.
Level and compensation will be commensurate with experience.
Qualifications
  • Senior Scientist I typically requires Bachelors, Masters, or Ph.D. with 10+ (B.S.), 8+ (M.S.), and 0-3 (Ph.D.) years of experience in pharmaceutical or related industry. Preferred educational backgrounds include but are not restricted to Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Chemical/ Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Materials Science.
  • Familiarity and preferred hands-on experience in physicochemical property assessment related to understanding CMC developability profile and potential risk mitigation strategies. Experimental and automation techniques of interest include but are not limited to: plate-based optical spectroscopy, liquid handler operation, custom scientific programming and scripting, machine learning and model-building concepts, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry, powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD), optical microscopy, light scattering techniques, thermal analysis, and other biophysical characterization techniques. Experience with automated data capture, laboratory instrumentation integration, assay miniaturization, and data analysis workflows is desirable.
  • Hands-on experience in assay development, automation, and workflow optimization, with an ability to design and implement efficient, reproducible, and scalable laboratory processes.
  • Strong understanding of physiochemical property profiling and its application to early developability assessment, including methods relevant to solubility, stability, and other compound attributes that inform pipeline decisions.
  • Familiarity with preclinical formulation development and screening strategies, including support for enabling formulations for emerging or complex modalities.
  • Familiarity with analytical, biophysical, and in vitro techniques used to generate high-quality data for early development decision making.
  • Demonstrated ability to generate, structure, and capture data in a consistent and traceable manner to support predictive modeling and AI/ML applications.
  • Experience collaborating with data scientists, computational chemists, or informatics partners.
  • Excellent organizational skills, self-management, and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Key Competencies
  • Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functional partners to enable higher performance.
  • Learns fast, grasps the "essence", and can change course quickly where indicated.
  • Connects ideas from disparate fields, integrates data and information quickly, and takes risks to achieve the highest performance.
  • Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo. Demonstrates scientific curiosity and problem-solving ability.
  • Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement.
  • Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality.

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. 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

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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