Solution Architect – Research & Development Systems

Elanco; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two weeklong shutdowns

8-week parental leave

Annual bonus offering

Up to 6% 401(k) matching

Flexible work arrangements

Multiple relocation packages

Job summary

Elanco is searching for a Solution Architect in Indianapolis, IN to lead the digital transformation of its global R&D organization. This pivotal role involves adopting modern development platforms to enhance drug discovery and streamline scientific technology architectures.

The ideal candidate will possess at least 5 years of experience with enterprise IT systems, hold a Bachelor's in a related field, and demonstrate exceptional skills in integrating SaaS solutions and leadership. Benefits include a comprehensive package promoting financial and mental well-being.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years architecting and delivering enterprise IT systems.
• Experience with High-Performance Computing (HPC) and scientific workload management.
• Knowledge of regulatory and data integrity requirements in GxP environments.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the architecture vision for Elanco’s R&D digital ecosystem.
• Partner with Product Managers to design scalable scientific computing solutions.
• Architect integrated R&D systems using SaaS and cloud-native platforms.

Skills

Support for pharmaceutical development systems

Technical expertise in integrating SaaS and cloud-native solutions

Exceptional communication and leadership skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Role: Solution Architect – Research & Development Systems

As a Solution Architect within Elanco IT, you will help lead the digital transformation of Elanco’s global R&D organization. You will drive the adoption of modern pharmaceutical development platforms, including High-Performance Computing, AI/ML systems, Electronic Lab Notebooks, and Laboratory Execution Systems, to accelerate drug discovery and development in areas such as bioinformatics, computational chemistry, genomics, and systems biology.

In this role, you’ll shape Elanco’s scientific technology landscape by guiding architecture decisions, influencing technology investments, and aligning solutions with enterprise standards and research innovation goals.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the architecture vision for Elanco’s R&D digital ecosystem, aligning with enterprise architecture principles and technology roadmaps.
• Partner with Product Managers and Principal Engineers to design scalable, compliant, and secure scientific computing solutions.
• Architect and implement integrated R&D systems (ELN, LIMS, LES, CDS, Informatics) using SaaS and cloud-native platforms.
• Apply emerging technologies such as AI, cloud-native applications, and HPC to optimize research workflows, data pipelines, and predictive modeling.
• Collaborate across IT and R&D to ensure systems support FAIR data principles and scientific reproducibility.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years architecting and delivering enterprise IT systems.
• Key Skills:
  • Proven experience supporting pharmaceutical development systems (ELN, LIMS, CDS, LES, Informatics, HPC).
  • Strong technical expertise integrating SaaS and cloud-native solutions using modern architecture frameworks (API-first, service-oriented, event-driven).
  • Exceptional communication and leadership skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing architectures for High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments and scientific workload management (e.g., SLURM, Nextflow).
• Familiarity with FAIR data principles and scientific data lifecycle management.
• Knowledge of regulatory and data integrity requirements in GxP environments (e.g., 21 CFR Part 11).
• Hands‑on experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and modern DevSecOps practices (CI/CD, TDD).
• Solution architecture certifications in Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud Platform.

Additional Information

• Travel: Occasional
• Location: Global Elanco Headquarters – Indianapolis, IN (Hybrid Work Environment)

Benefits and Perks

We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well‑being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose.

• Two weeklong shutdowns (mid‑summer and year‑end) in the US
• 8‑week parental leave
• 9 Employee Resource Groups
• Annual bonus offering and up to 6% 401(k) matching
• Flexible work arrangements and multiple relocation packages

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

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.