Scientist - Biologics Technical Operations

AbbVie Inc.; Missouri; On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking a Biologics Technical Operations Scientist to lead advanced manufacturing initiatives in our Missouri facility. You will drive process development, scale‑up, and robust control strategies while ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality expectations across the lifecycle.

You will coordinate with Production Leaders, Engineering, Validation, QA, and Regulatory Affairs to optimize performance and implement continuous improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical/Process Engineering or related field with 3 years of biologics manufacturing experience, or Master’s with 2 years.
• Demonstrated project management capability across cross‑functional teams with on‑time, within‑budget delivery.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and decision‑making skills with regulatory and quality awareness.
• Proven ability to work across operations, quality, engineering, validation, and regulatory functions.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on technical leadership to optimize process performance and equipment reliability.
• Lead process development activities including tech transfer and scale-up to plant equipment.
• Develop and implement process controls to optimize commercial manufacturing and robustness.
• Design and refine process control for continuous improvement of existing processes.
• Manage process improvement projects from initiation through execution, ensuring scope, timeline, budget, and quality.
• Support and uphold EHS standards and a strong culture of safety and compliance.
• Lead root cause analyses for process non-conformances and develop sustainable CAPAs.
• Design and execute pilot-scale DOE studies to generate development packages and guide decisions.
• Provide technical support for commissioning and validation activities throughout projects.
• Ensure compliance with Corporate, Divisional, quality, and regulatory policies.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Regulatory awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical/Process Engineering

Master's degree in Chemical/Process Engineering

Tools

DOE (Design of Experiments)

Job description

Company Description

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,XandYouTube.

Job Description

The Biologics Technical Operations Scientist provides advanced technical and engineering leadership, along with program management support, to biologics manufacturing operations on site. This role is accountable for sustaining existing biologics products, resolving complex technical challenges, ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality expectations, and driving continuous improvement through innovative process enhancements, improved controls, and robust execution across the manufacturing lifecycle.

Major Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on technical leadership to Production Team Leaders to optimize process performance, improve equipment reliability, and resolve complex manufacturing issues.
• Lead process development activities for existing products including tech transfer and successful scale-up to plant equipment.
• Develop and implement process controls to optimize commercial manufacturing processes and strengthen process robustness.
• Design and refine process control for the continuous improvement of existing commercial processes.
• Manage process improvement projects from initiation through execution, ensuring delivery against scope, timeline, budget, quality expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Support and uphold all EHS standards, procedures, and policies, promoting a strong culture of safety and compliance.
• Lead root cause analysis investigations for process non-conformances and develop effective, sustainable CAPAs in alignment with regulatory expectations.
• Design and execute pilot-scale manufacturing DOE studies to generate development packages and support technical decision‑making.
• Provide technical support for commissioning and validation activities throughout project execution.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable Corporate, Divisional, quality, and regulatory policies, procedures, and requirements.

Qualifications

• Relevant third-level degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education with typically 3 years of experience in biologics manufacturing, or Master’s degree or equivalent education with typically 2 years of experience.
• Demonstrated project management capability, including the ability to lead cross‑functional workstreams and deliver projects on schedule, within budget, and to predefined quality standards.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills with the ability to influence technical and regulatory outcomes.
• Proven ability to work effectively across operations, quality, engineering, validation, and regulatory functions.

Additional Information

Key Stakeholders

• Production Team Leaders
• Manufacturing Operations
• Process Development
• Quality Assurance
• Validation
• Engineering
• EHS&E
• Regulatory Affairs
• Project/Program Management

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,

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html