Mixed Modality (Peptide Upstream) Scientist - Process Translation and Execution

Lilly • Indianapolis, IN

2d • $67,500 - $173,800

About The Position

The Mixed Modality (Peptide Upstream) Scientist joins Lilly’s Process Translation and Execution (PTE) team at the Lilly Medicine Foundry, a new advanced manufacturing and drug development center in Lebanon, Indiana. PTE translates API and drug substance process knowledge into clinical supply readiness, oversees technology transfer, and implements phase-appropriate control strategies to support right-first-time clinical manufacturing across multiple modalities.

Under appropriate supervisory guidance, this role synthetically evaluates and facilitates the transfer of peptide upstream manufacturing processes from development laboratories to pilot plant operations, including kilo-scale and isolator production environments. The work supports early-phase cGMP manufacturing of gram-to-kilogram quantities of API for clinical trials. The scientist performs peptide chemistry and process familiarization, evaluates safety with safety and process engineering teams, documents laboratory trials and technical transfers, and contributes to process improvement and investigations.

During the Medicine Foundry’s construction, project delivery, and startup phase (2025–2028), responsibilities may evolve as the organization, systems, business processes, and site culture are established. The initial work location is Lilly Technology Center in Indianapolis and/or Carmel, Indiana; the permanent location will be the Lilly Medicine Foundry in Lebanon, Indiana. Limited domestic and international travel of less than 5% may be required. The role requires working in manufacturing and laboratory environments.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in peptide chemistry and/or manufacturing environments involving synthetic peptide API or drug substance.
• Authorization to work in the United States on a full-time basis; Lilly will not sponsor work authorization or visas for this role.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to learn rapidly.
• Ability to prioritize multiple activities and manage ambiguity.
• Demonstrated ability to drive projects and adapt to change.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical reports, presentations, and collaboration.
• Ability to work cross-functionally across disciplines and levels.
• Ability to work in manufacturing and laboratory environments.

Nice To Haves

• Solid-phase peptide synthesis experience.
• Working knowledge of peptide chemistry and mechanisms, including their application to reaction improvement and optimization.
• Experience with synthetic chemistry techniques for developing and scaling up chemical reactions; process chemistry knowledge is a plus.
• Proficiency synthesizing crude peptide by solid-phase peptide synthesis, including cleavage and deprotection.
• Comfort working with larger glass equipment.
• Experience creating batch records and conducting scale-up experiments according to those records.
• Experience with analytical techniques such as HPLC/UPLC, LC-MS, GC, and NMR.
• Experience with process quantification and obtaining mass balance for products and by-products.
• Familiarity with peptide downstream purification, TFF, lyophilization, precipitation, and safe handling of solids and dry-end processing.
• Proven ability to analyze data, perform root cause analysis, and resolve complex technical challenges.
• Limited domestic and international travel may be required (less than 5%).

Responsibilities

• Perform synthetic peptide chemistry and assess synthetic routes from early-phase process research and development laboratories.
• Perform peptide upstream procedures, including solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and cleavage and precipitation.
• Evaluate the safety of incoming procedures in collaboration with the safety group and process engineering.
• Order and stage chemicals.
• Obtain reference materials and participate in setting up analytical methods.
• Reprocess and analyze analytical data to make fact-based decisions.
• Summarize and present chemistry and process challenges.
• Perform familiarization executions of process steps, including SPPS and cleavage and precipitation, to ensure plant readiness at the Lilly Medicine Foundry.
• Perform use-tests of key raw materials and document Definitive Lab Trials to confirm plant readiness.
• Maintain an organized, detailed laboratory notebook documenting chemistry, observations, and analytical data to support technical packages, technology transfers, and accurate replication in receiving laboratories.
• Author and review technical documents, including technology transfer plans, standard operating procedures, batch records, campaign summary reports, and deviation reports.
• Identify process improvement opportunities and implement new technologies or procedures.
• Support troubleshooting and investigations involving process deviations, quality events, and non-conformances; collaborate on root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions.
• Collaborate across disciplines and levels with engineers, analytical chemists, chemical technicians, and safety and quality representatives.
• Support transfer of peptide upstream manufacturing processes from development laboratories to pilot plant operations, including kilo-scale and isolator production environments.

Benefits

• Company bonus, depending in part on company and individual performance.
• Eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k).
• Pension.
• Vacation benefits.
• Eligibility for medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits.
• Flexible benefits, including healthcare and/or 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: Mid Level