Associate Director – Parenteral Engineering, Operations Expansion

Eli Lilly and Company; Pleasant Prairie (WI); On-site; USD 123,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

401(k)

Pension

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Vacation benefits

Job summary

Eli Lilly and Company is seeking an Associate Director – Parenteral Engineering, Operations Expansion to lead the engineering and technical aspects of parenteral manufacturing expansion projects. This role drives design, implementation, and optimization of new and upgraded facilities, ensuring compliance with cGMP and Lilly quality standards.

Responsibilities include leading design and execution, equipment validation, and collaboration across Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Project

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale capital projects for manufacturing expansions or new facility builds within pharma.
• Strong understanding of cGMPs, FDA/EMA guidelines, and aseptic manufacturing standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering design, development, and execution of parenteral manufacturing expansion projects from concept to commissioning.
• Oversee selection, procurement, installation, and validation of parenteral equipment including filling lines, lyophilizers, isolators.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and PM to define scope, requirements, and timelines.
• Develop strategies to optimize processes, improve efficiency, and reduce costs while ensuring quality.

Skills

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory understanding

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemical/Mechanical/Biomedical Engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Aseptic filling lines

Lyophilizers

Isolators

WFI/pure steam systems

Cleanrooms

Parenteral manufacturing equipment

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—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.

Eli Lilly and Company is seeking an Associate Director – Parenteral Engineering, Operations Expansion to lead the engineering and technical aspects of parenteral manufacturing expansion projects. This role will drive the design, implementation, and optimization of new and upgraded parenteral facilities, ensuring compliance with cGMP regulations and Lilly’s quality standards.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the engineering design, development, and execution of parenteral manufacturing expansion projects, from conceptual design through commissioning and qualification.
• Oversee the selection, procurement, installation, and validation of new parenteral manufacturing equipment and systems, including aseptic filling lines, lyophilizers, isolators, and associated utilities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Project Management to define project scope, technical requirements, and deliverable timelines.
• Develop and implement engineering strategies to optimize manufacturing processes, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality for parenteral products.
• Ensure all engineering activities comply with internal Lilly standards, industry best practices, and applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, EMA).
• Manage external engineering firms, vendors, and contractors, ensuring adherence to project specifications, budget, and schedule.
• Conduct technical risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for complex engineering challenges in a sterile manufacturing environment.
• Provide technical expertise and mentorship to junior engineers and project team members.
• Prepare and present project updates, technical reports, and proposals to senior leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in parenteral engineering and operations.

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with at least 5 years specifically in parenteral drug product manufacturing and aseptic processing.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale capital projects for manufacturing expansions or new facility builds within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong understanding of cGMP regulations, FDA/EMA guidelines, and industry standards related to aseptic manufacturing, sterile product fill/finish, and facility design.
• Expertise in the design, qualification, and operation of parenteral manufacturing equipment (e.g., vial filling lines, pre-filled syringe lines, lyophilizers, isolators, cleanrooms, WFI/pure steam systems).
• Proven ability to manage complex projects, budgets, and schedules in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience with process optimization and lean manufacturing principles in a pharmaceutical context.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required for project needs.

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
$123,000 - $180,400

Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance).

• 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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