Advisor / Sr Advisor – Synthetic Molecule Process Engineer

Eli Lilly and Company; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly seeks an Advisor – Synthetic Molecule Process Engineer to join our Hyderabad team, working with chemists and engineers to oversee process development at a strategic CDMO and bridge Lilly scientists with external partners.

Ideal candidates possess deep knowledge of scale-up, process modelling, and digitization, with a track record of cross‑functional collaboration and delivering robust drug-substance processes.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with 8+ years of experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills for collaboration.
• Ability to learn and apply technical knowledge to changing project needs.
• Ability to prioritize multiple activities and handle ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate learning agility across modalities and design optimized drug substance processes.
• Understand principles of manufacturing raw materials, intermediates and drug substances for scale-up.
• Lead unit operations knowledge (crystallization, filtration, drying, etc.) to assemble complete synthetic processes.
• Identify innovative solutions and monitor regulatory requirements; promote digital tool use for modelling.

Skills

Process engineering

Modelling

Digital tools

Collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

Job description

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.

Advisor / Sr Advisor – Synthetic Molecule Process Engineer (Hyderabad)

Company Overview

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lilly makes life better – through medicines and information – for some of the world’s most urgent medical needs. Founded over 150 years ago, the company has sustained a culture that values excellence, integrity and respect for people. This has resulted in Lilly frequently being ranked as one of the best companies in the world at which to work. Lilly understands its business has prospered because of its employees – people with a talent for innovation and a passion for making a difference by finding treatments for the most stubborn diseases; people whose talent is matched by their generosity, and people with strong values and a determination to prevail, regardless of the challenges. Join our team – and make a difference in improving health for people all over the world!

About Synthetic Molecule Design and Development (SMDD): SMDD is a critical function within Lilly Product Research & Development (PRD) responsible for the development of synthetic drug substances and drug products from the pre‑clinical phase through commercialization. PRD at Lilly Bengaluru, established in 2016, is an integrated business unit with the Global Indianapolis functions supporting synthetic molecules, large molecules and drug delivery developments. Together we advance a dynamic portfolio of small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides and other emerging therapeutic modalities.

Job Description

PRD / SMDD has an exciting opportunity for an Advisor – Synthetic Molecule Process Engineer to join our multidisciplinary team of chemists and engineers. The Advisor will have ttechnical oversight of key process development activities performed at a strategic Indian contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). The Advisor will act as the technical bridge between Lilly scientists and the CDMO, review & influence CDMO strategies, ensure alignment with Lilly requirements, escalation risks and develop mitigation plans.

Empowered by access to world‑class capabilities and extensive pharmaceutical development experience, you will help deliver technical solutions that enable deeper understanding of processes and products across the portfolio. Ideal candidates must demonstrate a history of strong technical depth, scientific leadership, and a willingness to promote a collaborative, team‑based approach to problem solving. Candidates should have extensive knowledge of process scale‑up and interested in solving problems by applying various tools from process modelling, continuous processes or process analytical technology.

Role Overview And Key Responsibilities

Scientific & Technical Leadership

• Demonstrate learning agility across modalities (small molecules, peptides, and oligonucleotides). Apply engineering fundamentals towards designing and optimizing drug substance chemical processes for Lilly’s synthetic molecule organization.
• Understanding the scientific principles required for manufacturing raw materials, intermediates and drug substances, including the interaction of chemistry and equipment. Leverage knowledge of chemical reaction kinetics, heat and mass transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and process modelling to ensure robust processes are developed that are capable of error free scale‑up, ensuring a reliable supply of early and late phase clinical trial materials.
• Demonstrate learning agility to master the many facets of synthetic process design including learning new unit operations such as crystallization, filtration, isolation, drying, batch and continuous chemistry, milling, solids transfer, liquid handling equipment, among others. Apply the understanding of these unit operations to enable the assembly of complete synthetic processes to manufacture drug candidates.
• Identify and implement innovative solutions to development challenges, monitor emerging trends in process engineering, and maintain familiarity with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Proven record of embracing advanced digitization efforts by deploying digital tools to enable advanced modelling and seamless digital technology transfer.
• Thriving at the interface between disciplines and be able to quickly move from one scientific challenge to another while navigating ambiguity.
• Document all work in an appropriate manner

People Leadership

• Exhibit coaching and mentoring of peers and other scientists.
• Work as a team and take responsibility with accountability.
• Promote a team culture of scientific excellence, collaboration, safety, and compliance.

Basic Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with 8+ years of experience

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Use of strong interpersonal skills for collaboration
• Demonstrated self‑initiative and appropriate risk‑taking
• Ability to learn and apply technical knowledge to meet changing project needs
• Ability to prioritize multiple activities and handle ambiguity

Additional Information

• Potential exposure to chemicals, allergens, and loud noises
• Work hours flexibility to accommodate collaboration across multiple time zones
• Travel: up to 20%. Mainly domestic. Occasionally international.
• This position is in Hyderabad

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 does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

#WeAreLilly