Senior Principal Research Engineer - Combination Product Development

AbbVie • North Chicago, IL

3d

About The Position

The Device & Combination Product Development (DCPD) team at AbbVie advances innovative drug delivery systems supporting AbbVie’s therapeutic, eye care, and aesthetics portfolios. In this senior role, you will lead a global team and several programs to develop robust drug delivery platforms—ranging from autoinjectors to advanced electromechanical infusion pumps—ensuring safety, effectiveness, and process alignment. Working at the intersection of engineering and biopharmaceutics, you will elevate laboratory capabilities and drive multidisciplinary innovation through strategic execution. You will be working with a global cross-functional team to broaden the understanding and implementation of appropriate product and platform development principles within the established processes. It is expected that your collaboration will extend beyond just internal partners to external organizations and potential partners as well. The external activities will require you to develop and foster relationships with third-party development partners globally.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a science-related field with typically 18+ years of relevant experience; Master’s/PharmD with 16+ years; or PhD in a relevant science field with 10+ years of experience.
• Deep technical expertise in device and integrated combination product development, including comprehensive understanding of pharmaceutical and delivery system processes.
• Proven experience leading global teams and partnering across diverse groups internally and externally.
• Experience in developing and implementing process changes and improvements for combination products or medical devices.
• Experience in developing new engineering departments within a pharmaceutical or medical device company.
• Demonstrated innovation and a record of successful new or improved product releases.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with the ability to influence across scientific disciplines and organizational boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-site verification and testing strategies aligned with functional and scientific goals, collaborating across disciplines to integrate device and drug-product development. Working with combination devices and engineering.
• Develop, harmonize, and streamline phase-appropriate verification and testing methodologies across AbbVie’s delivery device portfolio. This also includes application of US and global applicable standards (ISO, AAMI, TIR, etc) in defining verification strategies.
• Lead the Verification team: document and clarify roles and responsibilities within DCPD and across the broader organization.
• Foster functional expertise by providing mentorship, training, and expert guidance to team members and leadership, while evaluating business challenges and ensuring alignment with DCPD goals.
• Advance scientific knowledge by sharing insights, enabling organizational achievement, and advising on current and emerging issues.
• Ensure compliance and quality in accordance with AbbVie policies through careful project planning, early risk assessment, and robust fallback strategies.
• Identify and integrate emerging scientific and technological trends from internal and external sources to inform functional objectives and advance cross-discipline technology initiatives.

Benefits

• 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.
• This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior