Advisor / Sr. Advisor - Discovery Process Chemistry

Eli Lilly and Company; Louisville (CO); On-site; USD 141,000 - 231,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly Small Molecule Discovery in Louisville, CO seeks a lab-facing scientist to design multi-step routes delivering key drug intermediates on aggressive discovery timelines. You’ll optimize reactions for yield and scalability and leverage flow, photochemistry, electrochemistry, and automation within a world-class facility.

You will collaborate across tox, ADME, analytical, and CMC teams, mentor junior scientists, and contribute to internal publications while maintaining safety and regulatory

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry or related field required by Aug 2027; OR M.S. with 8+ years of experience; OR B.S. with 10+ years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute multi-step synthetic routes to deliver key drug intermediates and candidates on aggressive discovery timelines.
• Optimize reactions for yield, purity, safety, and scalability; plan future scale-up requirements.
• Use flow chemistry, photochemistry, electrochemistry, and automated synthesis platforms to accelerate synthesis and robustness.
• Mentor and develop team members and collaborate with cross-functional partners.
• Prepare high-quality experimental reports and data packages; support tech transfer with CMC colleagues.
• Collaborate with CRO partners; provide scientific direction and feedback.
• Identify opportunities for publications, posters, and presentations.
• Follow site safety, environmental, documentation, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Synthetic chemistry

Process chemistry

Route scouting

Scale-up

Flow chemistry

Photochemistry

Electrochemistry

Automation

CRO management

Literature review

Education

PhD in Chemistry

MS in Chemistry

BS in Chemistry

Tools

ChemDraw

SciFinder

Reaxys

MS Office

Data tools

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.

Job Description

Discovery Process Chemistry

Lilly Small Molecule Discovery (LSMD) • Louisville, CO

Company Overview

At Lilly, we serve an extraordinary purpose. We make a difference for people around the globe by discovering, developing, and delivering medicines that help them live longer, healthier, more active lives. Not only do we deliver breakthrough medications, but you also can count on us to develop creative solutions to support communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.

Organization Overvi ew

Lilly Small Molecule Discovery is purpose-built to create molecules that make life better for people, using innovative science to unlock novel approaches for diseases with poor treatment options. Within Advanced Molecule Design, the Discovery Process Chemistry team focuses on route scouting, leveraging advanced synthetic technologies, and enabling rapid scale-up to deliver up to hundred-gram quantities of key intermediates and potential drug candidates.

Position Summar y

This is a lab-facing scientific role. The scientist will design and execute multi-step synthetic routes to deliver key drug intermediates and candidates on aggressive discovery timelines, applying process chemistry principles to optimize reactions for yield, purity, safety, and scalability. The role takes advantage of our world-class facilities and scientists in Louisville and throughout the Lilly network, leveraging in-house enabling technologies and, where appropriate, CRO partnerships to accelerate molecule progression toward the clinic, and offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative, growth-oriented team that values individual accountability and collaboration.

Responsibilities

Top candidates for this position will be expected to:

• Route design: Design and execute multi-step synthetic routes to deliver key drug intermediates and candidates on aggressive discovery timelines, applying literature precedent creatively to develop differentiated strategies for assigned targets.
• Process chemistry: Optimize reactions for yield, purity, safety, and scalability, anticipating future scale-up requirements from early-stage work.
• Enabling technologies: Use flow chemistry, photochemistry, electrochemistry, and automated synthesis platforms to accelerate synthesis and improve process robustness and share learnings to help expand these capabilities.
• Safety: Conduct thermal risk assessments (DSC, reaction calorimetry) and hazard evaluations as a standard part of safe scale-up; complete risk assessments before experiments and elevate concerns immediately.
• Developability: Proactively assess synthetic feasibility, route complexity, reagent availability, and estimated cost of goods at the earliest possible stage, and communicate synthetic risk and developability flags to the project team.
• CRO collaboration: Complement hands-on in-house work by providing clear scientific direction to CRO partners, critically reviewing deliverables, giving actionable feedback, and escalating scientific or quality issues to the project lead as appropriate.
• Tech transfer and documentation: Prepare high-quality experimental reports, synthetic procedures, and data packages, and support tech transfer by preparing process documentation and participating in knowledge transfer with CMC colleagues.
• AI/ML and digital tools: Integrate AI/ML tools, predictive modeling, and data-driven approaches into synthetic planning and reaction optimization, and data visualization solutions to extract insights from experimental data.
• Collaboration: Engage openly in cross-functional discussions with tox, ADME, analytical, and CMC colleagues; independently prioritize competing demands; and mentor and develop team members.
• Scientific communication: Identify opportunities for internal or external publications, posters, and presentations.
• Compliance: Follow all site safety, environmental, documentation, and regulatory requirements. Actively reinforce a safety-first team culture.

Basic Qualification s

Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry or other closely related discipline (All requirements must be met no later than August 2027); OR M.S with 8+ years of relevant industry experience; OR B.S with 10+ years of relevant industry experience.

Strongly preferred

Synthetic and process chemistry: strong background in synthetic organic chemistry, including route scouting, reaction optimization, process chemistry, and scale-up, with extensive working knowledge of modern methodologies, isolation and purification techniques, and structural characterization.

Enabling technologies: experience with flow chemistry, photochemistry, electrochemistry, or automated synthesis platforms.

Developability: familiarity with early-stage developability concepts, including synthetic feasibility, cost of goods, and regulatory starting material designation.

CRO management: experience managing or coordinating work with CRO partners in a discovery or process chemistry context.

Additional skills and preference s

Demonstrated ability to independently design and execute multi-step synthetic routes in a drug discovery or process chemistry setting.

Proven track record of contributing to peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Effective English-language written and verbal communication skills.

Active engagement with current synthetic chemistry literature, with discernment regarding the limitations and scalability of new transformations.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ChemDraw, SciFinder, Reaxys, and other scientific data tools.

Working familiarity with data science tools or AI/ML applications relevant to synthetic chemistry workflows.

Proven ability to mentor junior scientists and contribute to a collaborative, inclusive team culture.

Strong organizational skills with a track record of delivering high-quality results under competing timelines.

Additional Informatio n

Work environment is laboratory-based, with hands-on work with chemical reagents, synthetic equipment, and analytical instrumentation; standard personal protective equipment is required. Occasional support of work across multiple lab spaces or collaboration in office and meeting environments is needed.

Potential exposure to chemicals, allergens, and loud noises.

Travel: 0 to 10%.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Lilly is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate based on age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Lilly is able to provide support for work authorization and visa sponsorship for this role for qualified candidates.

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 (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $141,000 - $231,000 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
• 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.

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