Mixed Modality (Peptide Upstream) Scientist - Process Translation and Execution

Scorpion Therapeutics; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly Technology Center in Indiana is seeking a peptide chemist to advance synthetic routes and scale-up processes for peptide APIs. The role involves SPPS, cleavage, material qualification, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure plant readiness and transfer of processes.

Ideal candidates have 3+ years in peptide chemistry/manufacturing, strong analytical skills (HPLC/UPLC, LC-MS, GC, NMR), and a commitment to quality and safety in a manufacturing setting.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in chemistry/chemical engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of peptide chemistry and/or synthetic peptide API/drug substance manufacturing (solid phase peptide synthesis preferred).
• Authorized to work in the U.S. full-time; Lilly will not sponsor visas/work authorization.

Responsibilities

• Perform synthetic peptide chemistry and assess synthetic routes from early phase process R&D labs.
• Conduct peptide upstream procedures such as SPPS and Cleavage & Precipitation.
• Evaluate safety of incoming procedures in collaboration with safety group and process engineering.
• Order and stage chemicals; obtain reference materials; set up analytical methods.
• Reprocess and analyze analytical data to make fact-based decisions.
• Summarize and present chemistry and challenges.
• Perform familiarization executions to ensure plant readiness (including SPPS and Cleavage & Precipitation).
• Perform use-tests of key raw materials and document Definitive Lab Trials to confirm plant readiness.
• Maintain detailed lab notebooks for accurate technical packages/transfers and replication in receiving labs.
• Author/review technical documents: tech transfer plan, SOPs, batch records, campaign summary reports, deviation reports.
• Apply scientific knowledge to identify improvements and implement new technologies/procedures.
• Support process deviations, quality events, and non-conformances; collaborate on RCA and CAPAs.

Job description

Responsibilities:

• Perform synthetic peptide chemistry and assess synthetic routes from early phase process R&D labs.
• Conduct peptide upstream procedures such as SPPS and Cleavage & Precipitation.
• Evaluate safety of incoming procedures in collaboration with safety group and process engineering.
• Order and stage chemicals; obtain reference materials; set up analytical methods.
• Reprocess and analyze analytical data to make fact-based decisions.
• Summarize and present chemistry and challenges.
• Perform familiarization executions to ensure plant readiness (including SPPS and Cleavage & Precipitation).
• Perform use-tests of key raw materials and document Definitive Lab Trials to confirm plant readiness.
• Maintain detailed lab notebooks for accurate technical packages/transfers and replication in receiving labs.
• Author/review technical documents: tech transfer plan, SOPs, batch records, campaign summary reports, deviation reports.
• Apply scientific knowledge to identify improvements and implement new technologies/procedures.
• Support process deviations, quality events, and non-conformances; collaborate on RCA and CAPAs.

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. or M.S. in chemistry/chemical engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in peptide chemistry and/or synthetic peptide API/drug substance manufacturing environments (solid phase peptide synthesis preferred).
• Authorized to work in the U.S. full-time; Lilly will not sponsor visas/work authorization.

Preferred Qualifications/Skills:

• Working knowledge of peptide chemistry/mechanisms; reaction improvement/optimization.
• Experience scaling up synthetic chemistry; process chemistry concepts a plus.
• Proficiency synthesizing peptide crude via SPPS and cleavage & deprotection.
• Comfort with larger glass equipment; strong attention to detail.
• Experience creating batch records and conducting scale-up experiments.
• Ability to prioritize multiple activities and manage ambiguity.
• Analytical techniques: HPLC/UPLC, LC-MS, GC, NMR, etc.; mass balance/process quantification.
• Experience driving projects, accepting change; excellent written/verbal communication.
• Familiarity with downstream purification (TFF, lyophilization) and safe handling of solids.
• Proven problem-solving/root cause analysis; cross-functional collaboration.

Other Information:

Location: Initial Lilly Technology Center (Indianapolis and/or Carmel), permanent at Lilly Medicine Foundry (Lebanon, IN).

Limited travel (<5%); manufacturing and laboratory environment work required.