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Small Molecule Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

micro1 AI

Cheminformatics Specialist - Remote

Aurora, IL · Remote

$80 - $110/hr

Analyze and interpret small-molecule and drug discovery datasets using advanced computational biology, bioinformatics, and cheminformatics methods. * Curate, annotate, and validate chemical and ...

micro1 AI

Bioinformatics Software Engineer

Elgin, IL · Remote

$80 - $110/hr

Analyze and interpret small-molecule and drug discovery datasets using advanced computational biology, bioinformatics, and cheminformatics methods. * Curate, annotate, and validate chemical and ...

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Small Molecule information

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$23

$46

$67

How much do small molecule jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for small molecule in Chicago, IL is $46.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39.13 and $52.02 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a small molecule?

A Small Molecule job typically involves research, development, manufacturing, or regulatory work related to small-molecule drugs, which are chemically synthesized compounds used in pharmaceuticals. Professionals in this field may work in drug discovery, formulation, process development, or quality control. Roles can be found in pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and regulatory agencies, focusing on optimizing drug efficacy, safety, and production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the small molecule position, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Small Molecule position, such as a Small Molecule Scientist or Chemist, you need a strong background in organic or medicinal chemistry, analytical techniques, and drug discovery processes, often supported by a degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation like HPLC, NMR, and mass spectrometry, as well as proficiency in data analysis software and adherence to GLP or GMP guidelines, is essential. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication abilities are highly valued. These strengths enable precise experimental execution, rigorous data interpretation, and successful collaboration in developing new therapeutic compounds.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in small molecule drug discovery roles?

Professionals in small molecule drug discovery often encounter challenges such as optimizing compound properties for both efficacy and safety, troubleshooting synthetic routes, and navigating the complexities of multi-disciplinary project teams. Balancing rapid project timelines with regulatory requirements and maintaining meticulous documentation are also crucial aspects of the role. Collaboration with biologists, pharmacologists, and analytical scientists is routine, making strong communication essential. Overcoming these challenges is rewarding and directly contributes to advancing new therapies from concept to clinical evaluation.

What are the most commonly searched types of Small Molecule jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Small Molecule jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Small Molecule jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Small Molecule jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Small Molecule jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Small Molecule jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Small Molecule jobs near you
Infographic showing various Small Molecule job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,512 per year, or $46.4 per hour.

Director, Computational HitGen / LeadGen Team Lead

AbbVie

North Chicago, IL • On-site

$160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago

AbbVie rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 103 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
Overview:
This position brings an opportunity to make innovative contributions that will define how AbbVie leverages AI-native drug discovery across our small molecule portfolio. Reports to Head of Computational Drug Discovery (CDD) and will lead the computational HitGen/LeadGen (HGLG) team. Will implement and enable close collaboration between members of the HGLG team and Drug Discovery partners across the AbbVie community. Must possess a strong track record leveraging modern computational and property-based drug design tools to deliver programs across the phases of a small molecule drug discovery pipeline. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience from across the drug discovery lifecycle from having worked on a broad range of diverse campaigns, and an established external footprint and network. Past experience will have included mentorship of early/mid-career scientists in matrixed and/or direct reporting relationships, with demonstrated ability to lead and influence through cross-functional collaboration.
Responsibilities:
Provide strategic thought leadership to amplify CDD's impact on the small molecule pipeline:
  • Lead development of a cohesive collection of cutting-edge methods and workflows, to comprehensively address AbbVie's small molecule portfolio needs (methods for predicting binding affinities of diverse chemotypes, for predicting pharmacological properties for diverse chemotypes (PK parameters, etc.), and for rapidly sampling both enumerated and AI-generated chemical spaces
  • Work closely with the small-molecule leadership teams to identify and address gaps where computational predictions are needed
  • Advance drug discovery expertise across CDD and collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams from R&D and Information Research to advance programs and ensure computational capabilities are best implemented across programs

Direct activities of the HGLG Team to enable program-level decision making:
  • Across AbbVie's early-stage small molecule portfolio, provide leadership and guidance that will deliver computational tools and workflows to achieve desirable hit/lead criteria. Role will be integral for ensuring alignment across functions and with the longer-term organizational and broader AI-native drug discovery strategies
  • Guide HGLG team members in benchmarking experiments to evaluate models' performance and domain of applicability for AbbVie's small molecule portfolio
  • Establish processes for selecting specific approaches that best suit project needs

Build CDD's reputation for impact:
  • Proactively demonstrate leadership by providing expert advice and shared knowledge with direct reports, peers, and senior management
  • Present program updates and research strategies to functional and non-functional leaders as well as potential and existing partners
  • Maintain awareness of emerging literature and science in the field and author scientific disclosures/publications
  • Maintain scientific presence outside AbbVie with appropriate publication and conference abstract submission highlighting innovative learnings in AI-native drug discovery

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education in science-related field with extensive (typically > 18 years) of related work; Master's Degree or equivalent education with extensive (typically > 16 years) of related work; PhD in Science or related field with typically 10+ years of related work experience
  • Demonstration of successful coaching/mentoring and people management
  • Demonstration of setting and driving strategy, in the context of leading a global team
  • Highly organized and self-directed, experience leading multiple complex simultaneous research programs or initiatives
  • Knowledge and experience in modern computational approaches for drug discovery
  • Excellent written and verbal communication, as well as critical evaluation and data-driven decision making
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with demonstrated ability to think critically and creatively, and provide solutions both individually and collaboratively with internal experts
  • Proven team leadership and management abilities, including experience mentoring, guiding, supervising, and developing scientific personnel with various backgrounds and training levels
  • Highly collaborative, team-oriented, and considerate of the needs of others
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with diverse groups within the organization and external partners
  • Ability to create an inclusive environment where diverse ideas, viewpoints and backgrounds are valued; willingness and ability to lead inclusively and demonstrate a commitment to listen and consider all points of view

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

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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

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