Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. Posted September 3, 2026

Senior Scientist, Analytical Development (Small Molecule Drug Substance)

US CA San Diego, United States Full time
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Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

Who We Are:

Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose: to relieve suffering for people with great needs. We are dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, psychiatric, endocrine and immunological disorders. The company's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington's disease, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hyperphagia in Prader-Willi syndrome, endometriosis* and uterine fibroids*, as well as a robust pipeline including multiple compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across our core therapeutic areas. For more than three decades, we have applied our unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and disorders, because you deserve brave science. For more information, visit  neurocrine.com , and follow the company on  LinkedIn ,  X , Facebook and YouTube . ( *in collaboration with AbbVie )

About the Role:

Responsible for analytical development activities for small molecule drug substances from preclinical through commercial phase. This role is laboratory-focused, requiring deep expertise in analytical chemistry and strong problem-solving skills. The Senior Scientist independently manages analytical activities for assigned programs including development, execution, validation, transfer and troubleshooting of methods used to control raw materials, in-process, intermediates and final products. While also overseeing analytical work performed at external CROs and CDMOs. Conducts work in compliance with cGMP, safety, and regulatory requirements.

The position works cross-functionally with teams across CMC, Technical Operations, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing, and external partners to support product development, manufacturing readiness, and regulatory submissions. The role also contributes to overall control strategy development and ensures scientific and technical alignment through all phases of product development. _

Your Contributions (include, but are not limited to):

Perform development and optimization of phase-appropriate analytical methods for starting materials, intermediates, and drug substances to support programs from early development through commercialization using techniques such as HPLC, GC, MS, FTIR, UV, NMR, KF and other relevant techniques to ensure method suitability for intended purpose.

Perform analytical method verification and validation within cGMP compliance and in accordance with regulatory guidelines.

Perform analytical development activities for the characterization of small molecules utilizing various chemical-physical characterization techniques.

Perform development stability studies, forced degradation studies and support impurity identification.

Independently lead and execute analytical development activities and contribute to overall control strategy for assigned projects.

Provide scientific leadership and technical support for quality investigations, including OOS/OOT events, deviations, root cause analyses, and CAPAs.

Maintain accurate and comprehensive laboratory documentation in compliance with company procedure.

Represent Analytical development on cross-functional teams. Maintain accountability for analytical deliverables and progress on CMC and manufacturing plans for all development projects.

Conduct laboratory work independently and/or train lab personnel within the company and at external vendors.

Support CMC regulatory documentation and filings as needed.

Support off-site analytical transfers, manufacturing support, and interaction with contractors.

Clearly communicate analytical results, risks, and recommendations through high-quality technical reports, presentations, and cross functional discussions across the company.

Ensure safe laboratory practices.

Create and implement novel concepts and techniques to support analytical activities with Chemical and Product Development.

Contribute to development of policies and department strategies.

Partner closely with other team members to develop and implement best practices.

Build and enhance internal and external professional relationships.

Support career development and technical growth of team members.

Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements:

BS/BA in Chemistry or related discipline AND 6+ years of experience in the analytical/pharmaceutical development field. Experience in method transfer in Analytical Chemistry OR

MS/MA in Chemistry or related discipline AND 4+ years of experience OR

PhD in Chemistry or related discipline AND 2+ years of relevant experience; may include postdoc experience

Thorough understanding of analytical chemistry and a well-developed understanding of process chemistry as well as formulation development

Technical proficiency with techniques that include, but are not limited to, HPLC, UPLC, GC, KF, IC, IR, MS, Spectroscopy, UV, and XRPD

Excellent interpersonal skills with strong oral and written communication abilities

Excellent laboratory and productivity skills

Method transfer experience in Analytical Chemistry

Good understanding of cGMP requirements in API and drug product

Demonstration of cross-functional understanding related to drug development

Assimilates data and research findings outside of Neurocrine for application to new scientific projects

Maintains broad knowledge of scientific principles and theories and possesses intellectual mastery of one or more scientific areas

May develop an understanding of other areas and related dependencies

Advanced knowledge and demonstrated ability working with / recommending a variety of laboratory equipment/tools

Ability to work as part of and lead multiple teams

Exhibits leadership skill and ability, typically leads lower levels and/or indirect teams

Excellent computer skills

Excellent communications, problem-solving, analytical thinking skills.

Sees broader picture, impact on multiple programs, teams and/or departments

Ability to meet multiple deadlines across a variety of projects/programs, with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency

Excellent project management skills

#LI-LS1

Neurocrine Biosciences is an EEO/Disability/Vets employer.

We are committed to building a workplace of belonging, respect, and empowerment , and we recognize there are a variety of ways to meet our requirements. We are looking for the best candidate for the job and encourage you to apply even if your experience or qualifications don’t line up to exactly what we have outlined in the job description.

_

The annual base salary we reasonably expect to pay is $130,800.00-$179,000.00. Individual pay decisions depend on various factors, such as primary work location, complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus with a target of 30% of the earned base salary and eligibility to participate in our equity based long term incentive program. Benefits offered include a retirement savings plan (with company match), paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Job details

Seniority
Senior
Function
Manufacturing & CMC
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
US CA San Diego, United States
Employment type
Full time

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Manufacturing & CMC role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 526 comparable Senior Manufacturing & CMC roles across 83 biopharma companies.

526Comparable roles tracked
498Currently active
83Companies hiring similar roles
37Countries represented

Salary context

203 of 526 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.

This roleSubject $130,800/yr – $179,000/yr
Lowest disclosed · Senior Technician Calibration - Maintenance · Mylan Technologies, Inc. $37,000/yr – $80,000/yr
Highest disclosed · Principal Scientist, Peptide Formulation · Merck $176,200/yr – $277,300/yr
Peer group range $58,500 – $226,750 (median $151,700)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 526 comparable roles

United States340
India33
Netherlands21
Ireland21
United Kingdom13
Singapore10

+ 31 more countries

Seniority mix

526 of 526 peers have a known seniority level

Senior342
Principal94
Associate Director90

Therapeutic area mix

7 of 526 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Vaccines & Infectious Disease4
Oncology2
Dermatology & Aesthetics1

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How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

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Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.