Advisor - High Throughput Process Chemistry SMDD Foundry Readiness

Company: Eli Lilly and Company
Location: Indianapolis
Posted on: February 6, 2026

Job Description:

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. The Synthetic Molecule Design and Development (SMDD) organization is responsible for the development of synthetic drug substances and drug products from the pre-clinical phase through commercialization. Our scientists and engineers develop innovative technical solutions to advance an exciting portfolio that includes small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, and other emerging therapeutic modalities. By cultivating a hardworking, culturally diverse workforce that exhibits deep technical expertise, SMDD delivers on these responsibilities and helps bring the next generation of life-changing medicines to patients. SMDD has an exciting opportunity for an Advisor/Senior Advisor in Process Chemistry to join our SMDD High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE) Center at Lilly Technology Center-North in Indianapolis, Indiana. This role supports the rapid development of clinical and commercial manufacturing routes and processes by leveraging high-throughput experimentation and automation technologies. Ideal candidates possess a strong scientific background in organic chemistry, have demonstrated aptitude in technical problem-solving, have a proclivity towards automation and digital/AI/ML technologies, and are motivated to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment. Responsibilities A High-Throughput Process Chemistry Advisor/Senior Advisor provides critical data to inform various process development activities, including synthetic route scouting, process invention/optimization, and impurity control/removal. They leverage state-of-the-art laboratory automation to rapidly produce reliable data, advance in-house automation and digital capabilities, and consistently collaborate with scientists across the organization. Responsibilities of the role include: Design and execute high-throughput experiments to support synthetic route scouting, chemical reaction optimization, new chemical transformation discovery, and impurity/metal extraction. Ensure scalability of screening hits to lab scale by performing hit validation experiments. Perform mechanistic and/or process understanding studies if needed. Apply statistical methods, machine learning models and experimental design to enhance reaction understanding and optimization. Advance digital and automation technology to support high-throughput workflows and enhanced chemical process development. Identify and implement innovative solutions to development challenges, monitor emerging trends in high-throughput automation and its application in pharmaceutical development. Actively contribute to drug substance development teams by providing project updates, data interpretation, and technical recommendations. Maintain good laboratory documentation practices and compliance with electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) guidelines. Work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team of chemists, engineers, and data scientists. Work independently in advancing projects and studies within required deadlines. Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills; effectively convey both the technical and business implications of data and decisions; productively collaborate with internal and external development partners; author internal technical reports and regulatory submission documents. Basic Qualification Ph.D. in chemistry (organic/organometallic preferred) or related fields. B.S. or M.S. with 5 years of demonstrated equivalent experience in a related field of expertise. Additional Skills/Preferences Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research Strong understanding of organic/organometallic reaction mechanisms and applies a first principles approach towards reaction discovery and optimization. Experience with a variety of analytical techniques: HPLC/UPLC, LC-MS, GC, NMR, IR, KF, XRPD, etc. Familiarity with automation systems (e.g., Unchained Labs, Chemspeed, Chronect, etc.) and data visualization software (e.g., Spotfire) is a plus. Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and the ability to work well in teams Highly motivated, able to learn rapidly, and demonstrates strong attention to detail. Ability to prioritize multiple activities and manage ambiguity. Additional Information Potential exposure to chemicals, allergens and loud noises. Travel: 0 to 10% Position Local: Indianapolis, IN LTC N 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 Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups. Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $126,000 - $204,600 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. WeAreLilly

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