Sr. Engineer - Process (Oligonucleotides)

BioSpace; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 68,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly is building an advanced manufacturing facility in Houston, TX and seeks a Senior Process Engineer to provide engineering support for oligonucleotide API manufacturing. The role includes process knowledge capture, equipment qualification support, and continuous improvement efforts on a site scaling to GMP operations with startup anticipated 2029–2030.

The successful candidate will work on process safety, PSM, data-driven analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to optimize performance,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Biochemical, or Mechanical Engineering or related STEM field.

Responsibilities

• Serve as front-line process engineer for oligonucleotide API manufacturing operations on the shop floor.

Skills

Cross-functional teamwork

Problem-solving

Data analysis

Process optimization

Coaching/mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical/Biochemical/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Process simulation software

Statistical analysis tools

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.

Lilly is constructing an advanced manufacturing facility in Houston, TX, for the production of API molecules, supporting current and future products, including new modalities.

The Senior Process Engineer provides technical support and engineering expertise for oligonucleotide API manufacturing operations. The role may serve as the front-line process engineer for a process team or support front-line process engineers, sustaining process knowledge and contributing to process optimization, equipment qualification, and continuous improvement. During the project delivery and startup phase (expected 2029–2030), the role will be fluid and dynamic, requiring significant collaboration and creativity as the site scales to full GMP manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the front-line process engineer and equipment asset steward for a process team, or support front-line process engineers, in fundamental engineering activities for oligonucleotide API supply — including root cause analysis, process documentation, and technical decision-making — with a regular, active presence on the shop floor where the work occurs.
• Capture and maintain process knowledge artifacts — including the Operational Control Strategy, material and energy balances, reaction kinetics, chemistry, and equipment design basis — and understand how equipment impacts related process parameters to support process capability and informed engineering decisions.
• Support the qualification of equipment and process systems, including contributing to User Requirements, Design Review documentation, and Verification test plans, and support return-to-service requirements following maintenance or other interventions so that qualification state is preserved.
• Ensure the correct application of Engineering Design Standards, Engineering Functional Standards, and Engineering Specifications, in partnership with the Engineering Tech Center.
• Provide engineering support for Process Safety Management (PSM) and Process Hazard Reviews (PHRs), including maintaining the basis of safety for process equipment.
• Apply statistical thinking and data-driven analysis to monitor process performance, cycle time, throughput, and equipment reliability, identifying bottlenecks and causes of downtime, and contribute to mechanistic modelling and process simulation for current and future processes.
• Support the tech transfer of new processes and unit operations, helping identify process knowledge gaps and implementing continuous improvement opportunities as a core member of the cross-functional process team.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Biochemical, or Mechanical Engineering, or a related applicable STEM discipline.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in GMP manufacturing unit operations.
• 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

• Previous experience in an API production environment, ideally in oligonucleotide manufacturing or comparable unit operations such as solid phase peptide synthesis, small molecule API chemical synthesis, or biologics downstream purification including preparative chromatography, ultrafiltration/diafiltration, and lyophilization.
• Proven ability to coach others in the development of technical knowledge and skills.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional process team comprising management, production, science, and engineering professionals.
• Proven ability to identify improvement opportunities and drive them through to implementation with creativity and initiative.
• Prior work with statistical analysis methods and process simulation or mechanistic modelling tools applicable to chemical or biochemical manufacturing.
• Willingness to adapt to a fluid, dynamic role during facility startup and scale-up to full GMP manufacturing operations.
• Project Management & Process Design.

Additional Information

This position is associated with a new advanced manufacturing facility currently under construction; startup is expected between 2029 and 2030. During the project design and delivery phase, the role may partner with the corporate Global Facilities Delivery (GFD) organization on facility and equipment delivery, and transitions to a fully site-based engineering function upon project completion.

During the startup phase, role scope and responsibilities will be fluid and may evolve as the organization, facility, and site culture are built out.

Position Location: US: Houston TX.

Travel Percentage (%): Travel up to 20% of the time; may include domestic and/or international travel.

Shift Information: Regular floor presence is expected across all production shifts (day, night, and weekend) in support of a 24/7 manufacturing operation; the role may include on-call or off-hours support, with specific coverage arrangements defined as the site support model is established.

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 $67,500 - $173,800

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.

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