Principal/Sr. Principal Scientist - Small Molecule - Lebanon API

Reposted 14 Hours Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Lebanon, IN, USA
In-Office
66K-172K Annually
Mid level
Healthtech • Biotech • Pharmaceutical
The Role
The Principal/Sr. Principal Scientist will support manufacturing of APIs by applying chemistry principles, troubleshooting issues, and improving manufacturing processes.
Summary Generated by Built In

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Lilly is currently constructing an advanced manufacturing facility for production of API molecules located in Lebanon, IN.  This facility is Lilly’s largest investment in manufacturing capacity and is intended to provide APIs for current and future products, including new modalities.  This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the startup team for a greenfield manufacturing site, and the successful candidate will help to build the processes and systems to enable a successful startup into GMP manufacturing operations. 

Job Position Overview: 

A TSMS Principal/Sr Principal Scientist in a frontline role is a key technical contributor within Lilly’s manufacturing operations, with primary accountability for applying process and chemical understanding to support the safe, compliant, and efficient manufacture of intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This role focuses on process understanding, real‑time technical support, and continuous improvement rather than routine laboratory execution.

The position requires a deep understanding of chemistry (with emphasis on organic chemistry) and the ability to design, interpret, and translate experimental and production data to manufacturing decisions. The TSMS Principal/Sr Principal Scientist collaborates closely with Process Engineering, Operations, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, and other cross‑functional partners to troubleshoot issues, strengthen control strategies, and ensure robust manufacturing performance.

Responsibilities: 

  • Apply deep scientific understanding of chemistry, particularly organic chemistry, to support the manufacture of intermediates and APIs, including the interaction between chemistry, equipment, and operating conditions.

  • Design, interpret, and assess experiments (e.g., laboratory, pilot, or manufacturing‑scale studies) and production data to inform process decisions, while not serving as a routine laboratory operator.

  • Lead and execute technical projects involving experimental evaluation, modeling concepts, and production data analysis to improve process control, yield, purity, robustness, and productivity.

  • Provide real‑time technical support during manufacturing activities, serving as a frontline scientific resource for operations and troubleshooting non‑routine events.

  • Author and maintain technical documentation to support TSMS and API manufacturing, including technical reports, change controls, investigations, validation‑related documents, and regulatory support documentation.

  • Develop and maintain clear instruction sets (e.g., tickets, procedures, process flow documents) that accurately translate process intent into executable manufacturing guidance.

  • Monitor and analyze manufacturing data to assess process variability, capability, and trends, and proactively identify risks or improvement opportunities.

  • Participate in and support cross‑functional problem‑solving, including deviations, investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives related to API manufacturing.

  • Communicate effectively with TSMS colleagues, cross‑functional partners, and site leadership to ensure shared understanding of process performance, risks, and technical recommendations.

Basic Requirements: 

  • Education Level: Bachelor, Master, or PhD in STEM Discipline (Chemistry preferred)  

  • Experience: cGMP manufacturing is preferred​. A minimum of 3 years of pharmaceutical or fine chemical manufacturing support experience required.

  • Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.

Additional Skills/Preferences: 

  • Demonstrate basic knowledge in small molecule or peptide. 

  • Relevant industrial experience in API development and manufacturing. 

  • Excellent analytical, technical, interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills. 

  • Ability to work independently and as part of a Process Team consists of a diverse group of management, production, quality, science and engineering professionals. 

  • Creativity to identify improvement opportunities and the tenacity/initiative to see them implemented. 

  • Guidance/mentoring of others through processes. 

  • Flexibility to meet business needs. 

Additional Information: 

  • Position Location: US: Lebanon IN LP1 

  • Travel Percentage (%): 5% 

  • Shift Information: 8-hour shift, 5 days a week Night and weekend work possible.  

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.


Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location.  The anticipated wage for this position is

$66,000 - $171,600

Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

#WeAreLilly

Skills Required

  • Bachelor, Master, or PhD in STEM Discipline (Chemistry preferred)
  • Minimum of 3 years of pharmaceutical or fine chemical manufacturing support experience
  • cGMP manufacturing experience

Eli Lilly and Company Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Eli Lilly and Company and has not been reviewed or approved by Eli Lilly and Company.

  • Retirement Support Feedback suggests long-term savings are bolstered by a defined-benefit pension alongside a company 401(k) match and retiree health options. These elements make total compensation feel strong beyond base salary.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth Feedback suggests paid time off is expansive, with substantial vacation, company shutdown days, and milestone time. This breadth of leave is viewed as a meaningful part of overall rewards.
  • Parental & Family Support Feedback suggests family-building and caregiving support are robust, including paid parental leave, adoption or surrogacy assistance, and backup care. These programs enhance the perceived value of benefits across life stages.

Eli Lilly and Company Insights

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The Company
HQ: Indianapolis, IN
39,451 Employees
Year Founded: 1876

What We Do

Eli Lilly and Company engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of products in pharmaceutical products business segment. For more than a century, we have stayed true to a core set of values – excellence, integrity, and respect for people – that guide us in all we do: discovering medicines that meet real needs, improving the understanding and management of disease, and giving back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.

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