Kilo Lab Technician

Lilly • Lebanon, IN

4d • $18 - $35 • Onsite

About The Position

The Lilly Medicine Foundry Kilo Lab Technician supports start-up activities to bring manufacturing equipment into service, becomes an expert in an assigned area, and helps ensure proper facility operation. The role requires limited domestic and international travel to collaborate with, train at, and learn from sites that currently produce APIs. After the project phase, the Technician provides on-the-floor support for API production with a safety-first, quality-always approach.

As part of the Process Translation and Execution (PTE) team, the Technician helps transfer chemical processes from development laboratories to kiloscale operations and supports clinical supply activities across small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, and high-potent compounds. The role includes daily Kilo Lab work to meet production plans, operate and maintain equipment, document and interpret results, assist with troubleshooting, and collaborate across functions. It is a manufacturing-based position that may involve laboratory and manufacturing environments, chemical and other exposures, clean-room gowning, respirators, and other required PPE.

The position begins at Lilly Technology Center – North in Indianapolis, Indiana, and its permanent location will be the Lilly Medicine Foundry in Lebanon, Indiana. During the Foundry’s construction, project delivery, and startup phase, responsibilities may evolve as the organization and its operating systems are established. The role requires flexibility to work first or second shift and may require support outside normal working hours, including nights or weekends. Limited travel of less than 10% may be required.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least 3 years of direct manufacturing experience; GMP and/or chemical processing experience is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to learn to operate a variety of new equipment and systems.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and experience working with solvents and large equipment.
• Demonstrated experience in manufacturing, cGMP, or another regulated environment.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; employment visa sponsorship is not anticipated.
• Flexibility to work first or second shift and provide support outside normal working hours, potentially including nights or weekends.
• Ability to work in laboratory and manufacturing environments and meet the physical demands of a lab/pilot-plant environment.
• Ability to use required PPE and perform clean-room gowning and wear respirators and safety equipment during processing and cleaning.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in facility or area start-up environments.
• Experience in pharmaceutical or chemical manufacturing involving Process Safety Management regulations or hazardous chemicals.
• Experience operating kiloscale glassware and equipment, such as glass reactor systems, AFDs, Nutsche filters, cartridge filtration equipment, rotary evaporators, and pumping systems.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with PTE scientists, process engineers, operations, analytical chemists, and safety and quality representatives.
• Experience in small-molecule, peptide/oligonucleotide, or high-potent manufacturing operations.
• Familiarity with distillation, filtration, extraction, and chromatography unit operations.
• Solid understanding of FDA guidelines and cGMP requirements.
• Strong documentation skills.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles.
• Problem-solving skills, including analyzing data, conducting root-cause analysis, and resolving complex technical challenges.
• Ability to understand technical terminology and work with mathematical formulas.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to handle and prioritize multiple projects and requests.
• Ability to manage priorities and ambiguity.
• Initiative in solving problems, troubleshooting issues, and learning new processes and computer applications.
• Effective electronic, written, and verbal communication across levels and functions.
• Basic computer skills; proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint preferred.
• Working knowledge of synthetic chemistry.
• Post-secondary education.
• High motivation, rapid learning, and strong attention to detail.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• For internal Lilly employees, LRL/Product Research Development experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support start-up activities to bring manufacturing equipment into service and help ensure proper facility operation.
• Support daily Kilo Lab activities and production plans, including transferring chemical processes from development laboratories to kiloscale operations.
• Follow safety, quality, environmental, and other compliance requirements; appropriately escalate adverse events.
• Operate processes and equipment according to batch records, user manuals, design parameters, standard operating procedures, and work instructions.
• Conduct laboratory or pilot-plant experiments, maintain notebooks and records, and provide written summaries to supervisors as needed.
• Dispense materials accurately and execute written and verbal directions, including material testing, experimental designs, and process scale-up to pilot-plant level.
• Complete daily monitoring, testing, and cleaning duties to maintain equipment and systems in good operating condition and meet regulatory requirements.
• Assemble and disassemble processing machinery and demonstrate mechanical aptitude.
• Promote site safety culture, compliant operations, and positive safety behaviors.
• Support troubleshooting and response to process upsets, incorporate operator input, and escalate issues as appropriate.
• Follow procedures for safety-event reporting and documentation, spill response, issue escalation, and emergency response when needed.
• Communicate at shift changeovers and participate in daily shift huddles and meetings to understand and set operational goals.
• Ensure area personnel follow cGMP practices, safe work habits, dress code, hygiene standards, and housekeeping requirements.
• Summarize, prepare, and tabulate data and coordinate activities with laboratories and support groups.
• Interpret generated data, suggest subsequent experiments, and recommend improvements to efficiency, equipment design or configuration, and processes.
• Plan personal work schedules and operate with minimal supervision, increasing independence with experience and equipment familiarity.
• Participate in building and area operations, including safety audits, procedure coordination, housekeeping, and continuous improvement projects.
• Use computer systems and programs for development project activities, including control or automation systems such as Delta V and Pi.
• Use company-supplied PPE and perform clean-room gowning; wear respirators and safety equipment during processing and equipment or room cleaning.
• Travel, as required, to collaborate with, train at, and learn from sites that currently produce APIs.

Benefits

• Company bonus, depending in part on company and individual performance.
• Company-sponsored 401(k) participation eligibility.
• Pension.
• Vacation benefits.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits eligibility.
• Flexible benefits, such as healthcare and dependent day-care flexible spending accounts.
• Life insurance and death benefits.
• Certain time-off and leave-of-absence benefits.
• Well-being benefits, including an employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED