Kilo Lab Technician

Eli Lilly and Company; Lebanon (IN); On-site; USD 24,824 - 48,078; Full time

Job summary

The Lilly Medicine Foundry seeks a Kilo Lab Technician to support start-up activities and bring manufacturing equipment into service. The role develops expertise in the area and collaborates with global sites to learn processes for API production. Initial site: LTC-N in Indianapolis; permanent location: Lebanon, IN.

Role requires safety-first, quality-driven execution, and strong mechanical aptitude. Travel up to 10% may be required to train and support sites worldwide.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 3+ years of direct manufacturing experience; GMP and/or chemical processing strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated learning agility to operate a variety of new equipment and systems.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and experience working with solvents and large equipment.
• Demonstrated experience in manufacturing, cGMP, or a regulated environment.
• Authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; Lilly does not anticipate sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Adhering to safety, quality, and environmental compliance and escalate adverse events.
• Operate processes and equipment according to batch records, manuals, SOPs to meet schedule.
• Conduct lab or pilot plant experiments, maintain notebooks, and provide summaries.
• Dispense materials and perform testing and scaling to pilot plant level.
• Complete daily monitoring, testing, and cleaning to keep equipment compliant.
• Assemble/disassemble machinery for processing of materials with strong mechanical aptitude.
• Promote site safety culture and compliant operations.
• Troubleshoot and respond to process upsets; escalate as needed.
• Follow procedures for safety event reporting and documentation.
• Communicate during shift changes and participate in daily huddles.
• Ensure cGMP, safety, hygiene, and housekeeping standards.
• Summarize and tabulate data; coordinate with labs and support groups.
• Interpret data and suggest improvements; plan own work with increasing independence.
• Participate in safety audits and continuous improvement projects.
• Use computer systems including DeltaV and Pi.
• Wear PPE as required; perform clean-room gowning and respirator use.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

GMP knowledge

Mechanical aptitude

Documentation skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

DeltaV control

PI control

MS Office

Job description

The Lilly Medicine Foundry Kilo Lab Technician actively supports start-up activities to bring manufacturing equipment into service. The Technician becomes an expert in their assigned area and supports the team on the proper operation of the facility. This role requires domestic and international travel to collaborate, train, and learn from sites that currently produce APIs. Upon completion of the project phase, the Technician provides on‑floor support for production of API molecules, ensuring a safety‑first, quality‑always approach while executing a production process that encompasses diverse unit operations and manufacturing skills.

We are seeking passionate and agile technicians to join the PTE team and help bring the Lilly Medicine Foundry's vision to life.

Responsibilities

• Adhering to compliance requirements (safety, quality, and environmental) and appropriately escalating any adverse events.
• Operating processes and equipment according to batch records, user manuals, design parameters, standard operating procedures, and work instructions to meet the production schedule.
• Conducting lab or pilot plant experiments, maintaining notebooks or records, and supplying written summaries to supervisors as needed.
• Accurately dispensing materials as requested and executing written and verbal directions, including material testing, complex experimental designs, and/or process scaling up to pilot plant level.
• Ensuring completion of daily monitoring, testing, and cleaning duties to keep equipment and systems in good operating condition per local and corporate regulatory requirements.
• Assembling and disassembling machinery for processing of materials, demonstrating strong mechanical aptitude.
• Serving as a cultural contributor to site safety culture, promoting compliant operations and positive safety behaviors.
• Supporting troubleshooting and reaction to process upsets, integrating operator input and escalating as appropriate.
• Following all applicable procedures for safety event reporting and documentation, including spill response, issue escalation, and initiating Emergency Response procedures as needed.
• Ensuring adequate communication at shift changeovers and participating in daily shift huddles/meetings to understand and set expectations for daily operational goals.
• Ensuring all area personnel follow cGMP practices, safe work habits, plant dress code, hygiene standards, and housekeeping requirements unique to the work area and job classification.
• Summarizing, preparing, and tabulating data; coordinating activities with other laboratories and support groups.
• Making interpretations of data generated and suggesting subsequent experimentation; offering ways to improve efficiency of time utilization, equipment design, configurations, and process improvements.
• Planning own work schedule and operating with minimal supervision; level of independence increases with experience and equipment familiarity.
• Actively participating in assigned building and area operations such as safety audits, procedure coordination, housekeeping, and continuous improvement projects.
• Understanding and utilizing computer systems and programs for development project activities, including control or automation systems such as Delta V and Pi.
• Using specified company‑supplied personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., hair and beard coverings, lab coats or gowns, safety shoes, safety glasses, hard hats, etc.) as required.
• Performing clean‑room gowning and wearing respirators and safety equipment during processing and cleaning of equipment/rooms.

Basic Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 3+ years of direct manufacturing experience; GMP and/or chemical processing strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated learning agility to operate a variety of new equipment and systems.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and experience working with solvents and large equipment.
• Demonstrated experience in manufacturing, cGMP, or a regulated environment.
• Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. Lilly does not anticipate providing sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H‑1B, TN, or similar) for this position.

Additional Skills and Preferences

• Previous experience in facility or area start‑up environments.
• Prior work in pharmaceutical or chemical manufacturing involving Process Safety Management regulations or hazardous chemicals.
• Previous experience operating kiloscale glassware and equipment such as glass reactor systems, filtration equipment (AFDs, Nutsche filters, cartridge), rotary evaporators, and pumping systems.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally with PTE scientists, process engineers, operations, analytical chemists, safety and quality representatives.
• Experience in small molecule, peptide/oligonucleotide, or high‑potent manufacturing operations.
• Familiarity with unit operations regarding distillation, filtration, extraction, and chromatography.
• Solid understanding of FDA guidelines and cGMP requirements.
• Demonstrated strong documentation skills.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles.
• Problem‑solving skills: proven ability to analyze data, perform root cause analysis, and resolve complex technical challenges.
• Ability to understand technical nomenclature and language and work with mathematical formulas.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle and prioritize multiple projects and requests.
• Demonstrated ability to manage priorities and ambiguity.
• Demonstrated initiative to solve problems, troubleshoot issues, and learn new processes and computer system applications.
• Ability to effectively communicate (electronically, written, and verbal) across levels and functions.
• Basic computer skills required; proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint preferred.
• Working knowledge of synthetic chemistry.
• Post‑secondary education helpful.
• Highly motivated, able to learn rapidly, and demonstrates strong attention to detail.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• For internal Lilly employees – LRL/Product Research Development experience preferred.

Other Information

• This is a manufacturing‑based role.
• This position requires flexibility to work either first or second shift.
• May be required to provide support outside of normal working hours, including nights or weekends.
• Initial location: Lilly Technology Center – North (LTC‑N), Indianapolis, IN.
• Permanent location: Lilly Medicine Foundry, Lebanon, Indiana.
• Limited domestic and international travel (< 10%) may be required.
• Potential exposure to chemicals, allergens, loud noises, and controlled substances.
• Role requires ability to work in laboratory and manufacturing environments.

Physical Demands

The physical demands of this job are consistent with a lab/pilot plant environment. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Compensation and Benefits

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $18.02 - $34.90 per hour. Full‑time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). 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.

EEO Statement

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.