Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 4, 2026. First seen by Alion on Nov 4, 2026.
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland, Ionis has been at work for more than three decades discovering medical breakthroughs that have redefined life for people with serious diseases. We’re pioneers in RNA-targeted medicines, and our platform continues to revolutionize drug discovery and transform lives for patients with unmet needs. With multiple marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology and select areas of high patient needs, we continue to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing to provide greater value to patients and are well positioned financially to deliver on our strategic goals.
At Ionis, we pride ourselves on cultivating a challenging, motivating and rewarding environment that fosters innovation and scientific excellence. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees.
With an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of human health, we look to add diverse individuals, skill sets and perspectives to our exceptional team. We continue to invest time, money and energy into making our onsite, hybrid and remote work environments a place where solid and lasting relationships are built and where our culture and employees can thrive.
We’re building on our rich history, and we believe our greatest achievements are ahead of us. If you’re passionate about the opportunity to have meaningful impact on patients in need, we invite you to apply and join us. Experience and contribute to our unique culture while you develop and expand your career!
SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE/ SENIOR SCIENTIST, PHARMACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY:
Ionis Pharmaceuticals is seeking a pharmaceutical development professional to support formulation development and drug product process development. This role will plan and execute laboratory studies, prepare and characterize parenteral formulations, evaluate stability and manufacturing-process performance, and turn experimental results into clear technical conclusions. The work will support programs across development stages for oligonucleotide-based drug products and other pipeline modalities, as appropriate.
The successful candidate combines strong bench skills with sound scientific judgment, careful documentation, and the ability to collaborate across Pharmaceutical Development and partner functions.
WORK LOCATION: This is an on-site, laboratory-focused position. The role is not eligible for remote work.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design and/or execute laboratory studies supporting formulation screening, optimization, and characterization for parenteral drug products.
- Maintain organized samples, study records, equipment records, and laboratory materials; follow applicable SOPs, safety requirements, and quality practices.
- Summarize experimental plans, results, and conclusions in protocols, laboratory records, technical reports, presentations, and other development documents.
- Communicate study status, risks, data gaps, and recommendations to the broader team; manage multiple experiments and deliverables in a timely manner.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of laboratory methods, templates, and development practices.
- Collaborate with internal and external partners to resolve technical questions and advance development activities.
- Contribute to authoring and/or review of drug product CMC sections of regulatory submissions and supporting documents, as needed.
REQUIREMENTS:
- BA/BS or higher degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related scientific discipline with a minimum of 5 years (BA/BS), 3 years (MA/MS), or 2 years (PhD) pharmaceutical development experience.
- Proficiency with common laboratory processes such as pipetting, buffer preparation, pH adjustment, and UV/Vis spectrophotometry is required.
- Hands-on experience in three or more relevant techniques such as buffer exchange, osmometry, viscometry, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, DLS, DSC, particle sizing/counting.
- Experience preparing and characterizing complex APIs such as oligonucleotides, peptides, antibodies, and conjugates.
- Careful, consistent execution of laboratory procedures, with attention to sample identity, calculations, equipment use, and contemporaneous documentation.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work reliably with scientists and cross-functional colleagues.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple time-sensitive deliverables independently.
- Direct experience with formulation development for parenteral drug products is preferred.
- Familiarity with GMP requirements is preferred.
Please visit our website,http://www.ionis.com for more information about Ionis and to apply for this position; reference requisition # IONIS004082
Ionis offers an excellent benefits package! Follow this link for more details:Ionis Benefits
Full Benefits Link: https://ionis.com/careers#:~:text=Highly%20competitive%20benefits
The pay scale for this position is $87,244 to $159,263
The pay scale for the Senior Research Associate position is $87,244 to $107,880
The pay scale for the Senior Scientist position is $129,288 to $159,263
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. PRINCIPALS ONLY.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and all its subsidiaries are proud to be EEO employers.

