Principal/Sr. Principal Scientist - Small Molecule - Lebanon API

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 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 Lebanon, IN.  This facility is Lilly’s largest investment in manufacturing capacity and 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 systems to enable a successful startup into GMP manufacturing operations. 

Job Position Overview: 

A TSMS Principal/Sr Principal Scientist in a frontline role is a key technical contributor within Lilly’s manufacturing operations, with primary accountability for applying process and chemical understanding to support the safe, compliant, and efficient manufacture of intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This role focuses on process understanding, real‑time technical support, and continuous improvement rather than routine laboratory execution.

The position requires a deep understanding of chemistry (with emphasis on organic chemistry) and the ability to design, interpret, and translate experimental and production data to manufacturing decisions. The TSMS Principal/Sr Principal Scientist collaborates closely with Process Engineering, Operations, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, and other cross‑functional partners to troubleshoot issues, strengthen control strategies, and ensure robust manufacturing performance.

Responsibilities: 

• Apply deep scientific understanding of chemistry, particularly organic chemistry, to support the manufacture of intermediates and APIs, including the interaction between chemistry, equipment, and operating conditions.

• Design, interpret, and assess experiments (e.g., laboratory, pilot, or manufacturing‑scale studies) and production data to inform process decisions, while not serving as a routine laboratory operator.

• Lead and execute technical projects involving experimental evaluation, modeling concepts, and production data analysis to improve process control, yield, purity, robustness, and productivity.

• Provide real‑time technical support during manufacturing activities, serving as a frontline scientific resource for operations and troubleshooting non‑routine events.

• Author and maintain technical documentation to support TSMS and API manufacturing, including technical reports, change controls, investigations, validation‑related documents, and regulatory support documentation.

• Develop and maintain clear instruction sets (e.g., tickets, procedures, process flow documents) that accurately translate process intent into executable manufacturing guidance.

• Monitor and analyze manufacturing data to assess process variability, capability, and trends, and proactively identify risks or improvement opportunities.

• Participate in and support cross‑functional problem‑solving, including deviations, investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives related to API manufacturing.

• Communicate effectively with TSMS colleagues, cross‑functional partners, and site leadership to ensure shared understanding of process performance, risks, and technical recommendations.

Basic Requirements: 

• Education Level: ​Bachelor, Master, or PhD in STEM Discipline (Chemistry preferred) ​ 

• Experience: ​cGMP manufacturing is preferred​. A minimum of 3 years of pharmaceutical or fine chemical manufacturing support experience required.

• 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: