Senior Scientist I​/II, Instrument

Position: Senior Scientist I/II, Instrument - No Experience Required
Company Description

About Abb Vie

Abb Vie'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 Abb Vie, please visit us at  Follow @abbvie on Linked In, ()  Facebook, Instagram () , X ()  and You Tube.

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Job Description

We are seeking an exceptional research engineer to join our Specialized Research in Chaotic Systems (SPaRCS) team within Discovery Research. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of microfluidic technologies at Abb Vie by designing and fabricating advanced components and systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery.

In this role, you will work at the intersection of engineering, materials science, biology, and innovation. You will develop custom polymer, glass, and silicon microfluidic solutions for a broad range of life science applications, partnering closely with scientists and engineers across R&D to solve meaningful technical challenges and create capabilities that do not yet exist. Your work will have a direct impact on laboratory productivity and on Abb Vie's ability to advance new therapeutics.

This position is ideal for a highly motivated engineer who thrives in a hands-on research environment, enjoys building from first principles, and is energized by the opportunity to invent, iterate, and push beyond the state of the art.

Job Responsibilities

+ Lead, operate, and continuously improve an on-site clean room for microfluidic device fabrication.

+ Leverage Northwestern University facilities and specialized resources to complement internal capabilities and expand technical possibilities.

+ Conceive, plan, and execute ambitious research programs using rapid design-fabricate-test cycles.

+ Generate, evaluate, and prioritize ideas for new microfluidic technologies with strong potential for impact.

+ Proactively explore the literature and emerging technologies to identify opportunities to go beyond existing approaches rather than simply replicate them.

+ Collaborate with functional and technical experts to translate research concepts into practical tools and platforms that strengthen Abb Vie's discovery and development pipeline.

+ Contribute to a culture of innovation, scientific rigor, and continuous improvement.

Level and compensation will be commensurate with experience

Qualifications

Required:

+ Sr. Scientist I

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree or and typically 10 years of experience OR Master's Degree and typically 8 years of experience OR PhD (no experience necessary) in mechanical, electrical, or other engineering,

+ Sr. Scientist II

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree or and typically 12 years of experience OR Master's Degree and typically 10 years of experience OR PhD 4 years of experience in mechanical, electrical, or other engineering,

+ Hands-on research experience in developing building, utilizing, and maintaining complex electromechanical clean room equipment such as mask aligners, e-beam evaporators, and RF sputterers.

+ Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines including biology, materials science, tissue engineering, and microfluidics.

+ Strong experimental mindset with the ability to independently design experiments, interpret data, and define logical next steps.

+ Desirable:

+ Experience working in fields of tissue engineering and cell culture.

+ Experience in computer aided mechanical design and multiphysics modeling.

+ Why this role stands out:

+ Work on technically challenging problems with real scientific and business impact.

+ Join a team that values originality, ownership, and curiosity.

+ Help build capabilities that enable new discoveries across Abb Vie R&D.

+ Be part of a collaborative environment where engineers and scientists work side by side to create practical solutions to complex problems.

+ Key Leadership

Competencies:

+ Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functional partners to enable higher…