Advisor – Process Engineer. Lilly Medicine Foundry

Scorpion Therapeutics; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Scorpion Therapeutics seeks a senior Process Engineer to guide scale-up of drug substance API manufacturing from lab to pilot plant in the Indianapolis area. You will translate development-scale chemistry into fit-for-purpose equipment specs, lead P&ID reviews, and ensure cGMP compliance across disciplines, vendors, and operations.

Responsibilities include modeling heat/mass transfer, reactor sizing, and process safety, with oversight of IND/CTX documentation and regulatory updates.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with substantial process engineering experience in pharma/biotech/CMO.
• Experience translating development-scale chemistry to scalable API manufacturing equipment.
• Familiarity with cGMP, regulatory submissions, and pilot-scale operations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical authority for equipment design and scale-up calculations across the Foundry’s small molecule node.
• Lead detailed engineering calculations, heat/mass transfer modeling, and equipment sizing for production suites (small molecule, peptide, oligonucleotide).
• Direct rig-fit assessments for incoming processes using simulation tools to validate scale-up readiness.
• Provide guidance on reactor selection/design for batch/semi-batch, continuous flow, and synthesis platforms.
• Drive scale-up from lab/kilo lab to pilot plant with rigorous evaluation and documentation.
• Lead P&ID reviews and communicate design intent across disciplines, vendors, and partners.
• Develop and maintain drug substance API manufacturing processes and control strategies; translate development-scale chemistry into fit-for-purpose specs.
• Support IND/CTX sections and regulatory submissions/updates.

Skills

Process simulation

Unit operations

Cross-functional PM

Leadership & comms

DeltaV controls

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering or related

BS/MS in Chemical Engineering or related with 10+ years

Tools

DynoChem

Aspen

DeltaV

Job description

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical authority for equipment design and scale-up calculations across the Foundry’s small molecule node.
• Lead detailed engineering calculations, heat/mass transfer modeling, and equipment sizing for production suites (small molecule, peptide, oligonucleotide, and new modalities).
• Conduct and direct rig-fit assessments for incoming processes using simulation tools (e.g., DynoChem, Aspen) to validate scale-up readiness (reactor geometries, mixing, heat transfer, pressure ratings).
• Provide guidance on reactor selection/design for batch/semi-batch, continuous flow, hydrogenation systems, SPPS peptide synthesis reactors, and oligonucleotide synthesis platforms.
• Drive scale-up from lab/kilo lab to pilot plant, ensuring rigorous evaluation and documentation of heat/mass transfer, mixing, and process safety at each scale transition.
• Lead P&ID reviews and communicate design intent/basis across disciplines, vendors, and partner functions.
• Develop and maintain drug substance API manufacturing processes/control strategies; translate development-scale chemistry into fit-for-purpose equipment specifications.
• Support preparation of IND/CTX sections and regulatory submissions/updates.
• Author and ensure timely completion of technical reports, basis-of-design documents, and engineering specifications.
• Plan/manage process engineering development activities; assign work, coordinate teams, and review progress.
• Ensure compliance with laws/regulations, SOPs, GMP, and safety procedures; lead/participate in Process Hazard Reviews/HAZOPs and hazard assessments.
• Train/mentor process engineers on equipment design, scale-up, GMP, and Foundry technical requirements.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related; OR
• BS/MS in Chemical Engineering or related with 10+ years' experience in pharmaceutical/biotech/CMO process engineering for drug substance API development/manufacturing.

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Expertise in chemical engineering fundamentals and small molecule API unit operations (reaction chemistry, crystallization, extraction, distillation, etc.).
• Cross-functional project management experience.
• Leadership, collaboration, and strong communication skills (verbal/written to operations, management, regulators).
• Experience preferred: SMDD/equivalent R&D and manufacturing; cGMP process support in pilot/clinical environment; process simulation (DynoChem/Aspen) and controls systems (DeltaV).
• Ability to prioritize in fast-paced startup settings and manage ambiguity.

Other Information

• Initial location: Parkwood West, Indianapolis, IN; permanent location: Lilly Medicine Foundry, Lebanon, IN.
• Limited travel (<10%).
• Ability to work in 24-hour manufacturing/lab environments.