Senior Process Engineer – Manufacturing Development and Scale-Up

Abbott•San Diego, CA

1d•$114,000 - $228,000•Onsite

About The Position

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. JOB DESCRIPTION: Job Title Senior Process Engineer – Manufacturing Development and Scale-Up Working at Abbott At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to: Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of. Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year. An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution. Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree. A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune. A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists. The Opportunity The position of Senior Process Engineer is within our Infectious Disease business unit located in RMDx in Carlsbad, California. This role will lead the transition from small‑scale laboratory synthesis to robust, reliable, and cost‑effective commercial production. This role is instrumental for building a new strategic capability within the Global Operations network. This individual will serve as the technical authority for end‑to‑end oligo manufacturing scale‑up, including solid‑phase synthesis, cleavage/deprotection, purification (HPLC and/or ion‑exchange), desalting, formulation, and large‑scale equipment selection. They will partner closely with R&D chemists, Operations, Quality, and Engineering teams to build, optimize, and validate manufacturing processes within a regulated environment.

Requirements

PhD or equivalent combination of education and experience, with a background in Chemical Engineering
5 years of related industry oligonucleotides experience, preferred 10 years

Nice To Haves

10 years of industry experience
Experience in a highly regulated GMP environment
At least 4 years of experience as the manufacturing technical liaison to R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and site leadership teams.
At least 4 years of experience as technical authority for end‑to‑end oligo manufacturing scale‑up, including solid‑phase synthesis, cleavage/deprotection, purification (HPLC and/or ion‑exchange), desalting, formulation, and large‑scale equipment selection.

Responsibilities

Manufacturing Scale‑Up and Technical Leadership Lead development, optimization, and scale‑up of oligonucleotide synthesis processes from milligram/gram lab scale to potentially multi‑kilogram manufacturing scale.
Translate small‑scale synthetic chemistry workflows into high‑throughput, automated, and repeatable manufacturing processes.
Define technical strategy for purification steps including reverse‑phase, ion‑exchange, and/or affinity chromatography.
Process Development and Optimization Design experiments (DOE), run scale‑up trials, and establish critical process parameters (CPPs) and implement manufacturing process controls.
Develop synthesis and purification workflows optimized for yield, purity, cycle time, and cost.
Optimize solvent usage, resin lifespan, column selection, and equipment performance.
Technology and Equipment Select and commission large‑scale synthesis platforms, chromatography skids, preparative HPLC/IEX equipment, ultrafiltration/diafiltration systems, and associated process automation.
Partner with engineering to design facility layouts, process flow diagrams, and equipment specs.
Documentation and Quality Author and review process documentation including batch records, SOPs, validation protocols, and change controls.
Support technology transfer, process validation, and regulatory submissions.
Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and company standards across all activities.
Cross‑Functional Leadership Act as the manufacturing technical liaison to R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and site leadership teams.
Mentor chemists and process technicians on synthesis, chromatography and process scale‑up.
Operational Excellence Lead troubleshooting on yield, purity, impurity profile, and equipment performance.
Collaborate with the Operational Excellence function to implement continuous improvement measures into oligo production processes.
Additional Responsibilities Understands and is aware of the quality consequences which may occur from the improper performance of their specific job; has awareness of device defects that may occur in their area of responsibility, including product design, verification and validation, manufacturing and testing activities Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal/external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the company’s policies and practices; build productive internal/external working relationships
Carries out duties in compliance with established business policies

Benefits

Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution.
Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

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