Scientist - BR&D Purification Scale-up Facility

Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly is seeking a Scientist in the Downstream Process Scale-up Facility in Indianapolis to advance purification development for biologics. You will collaborate with discovery and manufacturing colleagues to design and test downstream processes, supporting multiple projects in a dynamic lab environment.

Responsibilities include scale-up operations, process optimization, and documentation through reports and tech transfers, with emphasis on quality and safety across teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific, engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 3+ years of hands-on bioprocessing experience in manufacturing or development pilot plant.
• Knowledge of chromatography and scaling parameters for production-scale columns.
• Experience with Smartsheet for scheduling and processing-ticket creation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and test new downstream technologies and supply material for research and toxicology studies.
• Design optimized downstream drug substance processes for multiple biological candidates.
• Execute intermediate scale manufacturing operations such as column chromatography, depth filtration, and tangential flow filtration.
• Write technical reports and tech transfer documents; discuss results with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Downstream purification

Chromatography principles

Process scale-up & tech transfer

Unicorn control system experience

Teamwork and communication

Safety-minded laboratory work

Education

Bachelor's degree in scientific/engineering field

Tools

UNICON/UNICORN control system

Smartsheet

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.

The Bioproduct Research and Development (BR&D) organization strives to deliver creative medicines to patients through the development and commercialization of insulins, monoclonal antibodies, novel therapeutic proteins, peptides, oligonucleotide therapies and gene therapy modalities. This organization is a multidisciplinary group that works collaboratively with our discovery and manufacturing colleagues.

Located in Indianapolis, scientists and engineers have full access to our scientific excellence and engineering capabilities.

• Do you have process experience generating biologics?
• Do you enjoy downstream drug substance processes including purifying and filtering monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, viral vectors, or peptides?
• Do you have experience with scale up process development and tech transfer?

If so, then a role as a Scientist in the Downstream Process Scale-up Facility may be right for you.

As a Scientist in the Process Scale-up Facility of the Bioproduct Purification Development group, you will work with other development scientists to develop and test new technologies and supply material to be used in research and toxicology studies. Your work and input will be key to the design of optimized downstream drug substance processes for a variety of new biological pharmaceutical candidates. Work can be fast paced and dynamic, often requiring simultaneous support of multiple projects. Strategic thinking, problem solving to overcome technical hurdles and the ability to execute intermediate scale manufacturing operations such as column chromatography, depth filtration, and tangential flow filtration are critical for success with this role. Day-to-day responsibilities will vary, and you should be flexible and adaptable to maintain cohesion in a small lab-team environment while accepting new projects and challenges.

A strong scientific foundation and willingness to support process activities are prerequisites for this role. In addition, the ability to exhibit a high level of attention to detail, a quality-minded approach to experimental design, and record keeping are essential. Maintaining accurate records and interpreting data to provide detailed information and analysis on the execution of campaigns will be a daily activity. Writing technical reports, tech transfer documents and describing process development activities are important deliverables.

This role requires effective interaction and communication of technical information with but not limited to; Safety, Environmental and Quality Team members, Purification Development colleagues, CMC team members, Discovery team members, Analytical Services, Tech Service/Manufacturing Science representatives, Operations, Engineering, Regulatory and Maintenance personnel.

Especially important, in this role, is that you adhere to all safety and environmental guidelines and promote a proactive safety culture and environmental compliance in all areas.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in scientific, engineering, or related technical discipline
• 3+ years of relevant hands‑on experience in bioprocessing in a manufacturing and or Development pilot plant environment
• Working knowledge of basic chromatography principles and scaling parameters for packing and running production-scale columns
• UNICORN control system/software hands‑on experience for running production scale chromatography unit operations
• Demonstrated experience managing production schedules in Smartsheet or a comparable tool, and authoring processing tickets/work orders for downstream purification unit operations
• Strong organizational skills and clear communication across technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Demonstrated laboratory or production area work experience with a safety-first mindset; prefer experience with working with hazardous materials/training and experience with safety protocols, and corrective and preventive actions
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Downstream purification experience with different types of chromatography unit operations (affinity capture, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, mixed mode) and also filtration operations (depth filtration, tangential flow filtration)
• Strong laboratory skills
• Willingness and aptitude for manual and mechanical-based labor for larger scale unit operations in a pilot plant environment
• Strong team player attitude
• Experience with process control and electronic notebook documentation systems
• General interpersonal and communication skills; mentoring, feedback, training, and cultivating an environment for learning and open/honest communication
• Experience with data trending and data visualization
• Planning skills in a compressed campaign schedule environment, both coordinating with operations, and scheduling stakeholders to align resources and equipment with timelines
• Author, review, and route processing tickets that define scope, materials, parameters, and documentation requirements during campaigns
• Advanced problem-solving skills

Additional Information

• Potential exposure to chemicals, allergens, and loud noises
• Travel: 0 to 10%
• Position Local: Indianapolis, IN; Lilly Technology Center-North (LTC-N)

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

$65,250 - $116,600

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; 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.