Sr. Principal - QC Technical Resource (PAT & Automation)

BioSpace; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 66,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

401(k) plan

Health benefits

Job summary

Lilly is constructing an advanced API manufacturing site in Houston, TX, seeking a technical leader for the QC laboratory. You will guide testing methods, systems, and analytics, partnering with Manufacturing, Automation/Engineering, and Digital teams to integrate in-line, on-line, and at-line analyzers into a greenfield facility build-out.

This role requires a recognized expert who drives complex decisions, delivers innovations with cross-functional impact, mentors across disciplines, and

Qualifications

• Extensive GMP-regulated QC laboratory oversight experience.
• Experience with PAT instrumentation and integration with control systems.
• Experience with QC laboratory automation and informatics systems.
• Proven track record in analytical method transfers and lifecycle management.

Responsibilities

• Lead QC laboratory testing method development and quality systems.
• Site lead for PAT and in-line/on-line/at-line analyzers roadmap.
• Oversee QC automation including LIMS/LES, robotics, data historians.
• Address complex technical challenges with innovative solutions.
• Collaborate across Manufacturing, QA, Regulatory, and Digital teams.
• Ensure compliance with GDP, ALCOA+, cGMPs and inspection readiness.
• Mentor staff and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Analytical leadership

GMP knowledge

Data integrity

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory inspections

Education

Bachelor's in science/engineering

Tools

LIMS/LES

Data historians

PAT instrumentation

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.

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our 40,000 employees around the world work to discover and bring life‑changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Lilly is currently constructing an advanced manufacturing facility for production of API molecules located in Houston, TX. This facility is intended to provide APIs for current and future products, including new modalities. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the startup team for a greenfield manufacturing site, and the successful candidate will help to build the processes and facility to enable a successful startup into GMP manufacturing operations

Job Position Overview

This role serves as a technical leader within the QC laboratory, driving advancement of analytical methods, systems, and overall testing capability while guiding complex scientific decisions. The position leads the site's Process Analytics Technology (PAT) and QC laboratory automation strategy, partnering closely with Manufacturing, Automation/Engineering, and Digital teams to integrate in‑line, on‑line, and at‑line analyzers and automated lab systems into a greenfield facility build‑out. It partners cross‑functionally to solve challenging technical issues, influence broader quality and manufacturing strategies, and serves as a QC subject matter expert for site and global initiatives.

This position is a recognized expert who makes key technical decisions impacting multiple teams, leads the resolution of highly complex challenges, and influences technical strategy across functions. The role delivers innovations with cross‑functional impact, leads significant initiatives, mentors outside their own discipline, and serves as an effective supporter of culture change.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the QC laboratory by guiding the development and improvement of testing methods, quality systems, and analytical capabilities while serving as a technical authority in complex decision‑making forums.
• Serve as site lead for Process Analytics Technology (PAT), driving the selection, qualification, and lifecycle management of in‑line, on‑line, and at‑line analyzers, and defining the site's PAT roadmap in alignment with the overall QC and manufacturing control strategy.
• Lead QC laboratory automation initiatives, including LIMS/LES integration, automated sample handling and robotics, and data historian connectivity, to improve throughput, right‑first‑time performance, and data integrity across the QC organization.
• Lead the resolution of complex technical challenges by applying advanced scientific knowledge across multiple disciplines and designing novel solutions that enhance accuracy and efficiency across QC operations.
• Collaborate and influence across Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Technical Services, Regulatory, Product Development, Automation/Engineering, and Digital, as applicable, to integrate QC considerations into broader business decisions and serve as a subject matter expert during regulatory inspections and audits.
• Execute all Quality Control activities in a timely manner, in compliance with applicable SOPs, methods/protocols, good documentation practices, data integrity standards (ALCOA+), cGMPs, EHS requirements, chemical hygiene, and biosafety guidelines, maintaining an ongoing state of inspection readiness and providing support during audits and inspections as requested.
• Identify and elevate atypical results and potential deviations, participate in root cause investigations and corrective/preventive actions, contribute to cross‑functional teams and continuous improvement initiatives, and maintain training competencies to ensure only qualified work is performed.

Basic Qualifications

• Education Level: Minimum, bachelor’s degree in science or engineering or equivalent experience
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of laboratory experience in pharmaceutical or related industry
• Certifications: N/A
• Licenses: N/A
• Language Requirements: N/A
• Required Skills Testing: N/A
• 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

• Extensive experience providing advanced technical oversight in a GMP‑regulated QC laboratory, including comprehensive data review, troubleshooting methods, and scientific decision‑making for complex analytical or microbiological issues.
• Experience with Process Analytical Technology (PAT) instrumentation and platforms (e.g., NIR, Raman, or other in‑line/on‑line/at‑line analyzers), including selection, qualification, and integration with manufacturing control systems, is preferred.
• Experience with QC laboratory automation and informatics systems (e.g., LIMS/LES, automated sample handling, robotics, or data historians), including implementation or lifecycle support, is preferred.
• Proven track record of leading or significantly contributing to analytical method transfers, validations, and lifecycle management activities, with the ability to author technical protocols, reports, and regulatory submissions.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a subject matter expert during regulatory inspections and audits, including the ability to clearly articulate scientific rationale, defend analytical strategies, and respond to complex technical questions.
• Experience influencing cross‑functional decisions (Manufacturing, QA, Regulatory, Product Development) through technical credibility and data‑driven recommendations, with a track record of driving QC‑initiated improvements at the site or global level.
• Prior experience mentoring QC scientists and technicians on advanced analytical concepts, emerging technologies, and structured problem‑solving approaches, contributing to overall team capability development.
• Proficient in good documentation practices (GDP) and data integrity principles (ALCOA+).
• Proven ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams.

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

$66,000 - $171,600

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.

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