Sr. Engineer - Process (Small Molecules)

Eli Lilly and Company; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 68,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Eli Lilly and Company is building a new advanced manufacturing facility in Houston, TX. The Senior Process Engineer will provide technical support for small molecule API manufacturing, work on process knowledge artifacts, and help scale operations to GMP readiness.

The role emphasizes collaboration across engineering, production, and science teams, with a fluid startup phase and a 24/7 manufacturing mindset. Strong emphasis on safety, modelling, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Biochemical, or Mechanical Engineering, or related STEM field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in GMP manufacturing unit operations.
• Authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; no sponsorship provided.

Responsibilities

• Front-line process engineer for small molecule API supply on the shop floor; perform root cause analysis and maintain process documentation.
• Capture and maintain process knowledge artifacts (OCS, material balances, reaction kinetics, equipment design basis).
• Support equipment/process system qualification and verification testing; preserve qualification state after maintenance.
• Ensure application of Engineering Design Standards and Specifications with the Tech Center.
• Provide Process Safety Management (PSM) and Process Hazard Reviews (PHRs) support; maintain safety basis for equipment.
• Apply statistical thinking and data-driven analysis to monitor performance, identify bottlenecks, and support modelling.
• Support tech transfer and continuous improvement during startup and scale-up as part of a cross-functional team.

Skills

Small molecule API

Cross-functional team

Statistical analysis

Process safety

Continuous improvement

Project management

Process modelling

Startup & scale-up

Education

Bachelor’s in Chemical/ Biochemical/ Mechanical Engineering

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 small molecule 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, 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 small molecule 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 small molecule API manufacturing, or in comparable API unit operations such as multi‑step organic synthesis, reaction work‑up and extraction, distillation, crystallization, filtration, and drying; peptide or oligonucleotide manufacturing and biotech unit operations including chromatography are also applicable.
• 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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