Sr Scientist - Bioconjugation Lilly Medicine Foundry

Lilly • Lebanon, IN

3d • $67,500 - $173,800 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Scientist will join 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, implements phase-appropriate control strategies, and supports right-first-time clinical manufacturing across multiple modalities, including bioconjugates such as ADCs and ARCs.

The role focuses on transferring bioconjugation processes from development laboratories to pilot-plant and production settings, including kilo-scale operations, to support early-phase cGMP manufacturing of clinical-trial API. The scientist will perform bioconjugation chemistry, assess process safety and readiness, conduct familiarization and scale-up activities, support analytical method setup and data analysis, and prepare technical documentation for reliable process transfer. The position also contributes to process improvement, troubleshooting, investigations, and cross-functional collaboration.

During the Foundry’s construction, project delivery, and startup phase (2025–2028), responsibilities and organizational needs may evolve as the site moves from design to startup and steady-state operations. The initial work location is Lilly Technology Center in Indianapolis, with a permanent location at the new Lilly Medicine Foundry in Lebanon, Indiana. Limited domestic and international travel of less than 5% may be required. The role requires work in manufacturing and laboratory environments.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in a related field, with 3 or more years of experience in manufacturing environments involving biochemistry, chemical biology, conjugation chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• Authorization to work in the United States on a full-time basis; Lilly will not sponsor work authorization or visas for this role.
• Ability to work in manufacturing and laboratory environments.
• Ability to prioritize multiple activities and manage ambiguity.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to learn rapidly.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical reports, presentations, and collaboration.
• Ability to analyze data, perform root cause analysis, and resolve technical challenges.
• Ability to work cross-functionally across disciplines and levels.

Nice To Haves

• Working knowledge of organic chemistry, reaction mechanisms, and their application to reaction improvement and optimization.
• Knowledge of and hands-on experience with analytical methods for small molecules and biomolecules, including RP-HPLC, SEC, IEX, HIC, LC-MS, and CE-SDS.
• Hands-on experience with liquid chromatography for bioconjugate purification and familiarity with chromatography systems.
• Experience with synthetic chemistry techniques for developing and scaling up chemical reactions; process chemistry experience is a plus.
• Comfort working with larger glass equipment and single-use equipment.
• Experience creating batch records and conducting scale-up experiments according to those records.
• Demonstrated ability to drive projects and adapt to change.
• Experience with process quantification and obtaining mass balances for products and by-products.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate transfer of bioconjugation chemical processes for ADCs and similar modalities from development laboratories to pilot-plant, kilo-scale, and production environments under appropriate supervisory guidance.
• Perform bioconjugation chemistry, including antibody preparation, buffer exchanges, and protein-specific characterization such as DAR analysis and aggregate assessment.
• Receive chemistry from early-phase process research and development laboratories and evaluate the safety of incoming procedures with safety and process engineering teams.
• Work with highly potent molecules and containment in laboratory and production environments, including use of single-use bioprocessing systems.
• Order and stage chemicals; obtain reference materials and participate in setting up analytical methods.
• Reprocess and analyze analytical data to support fact-based decisions.
• Summarize and present chemistry, results, and challenges.
• Perform familiarization reactions and operations to assess plant readiness, including reduction, conjugation, oxidation, and tangential flow filtration (TFF).
• Conduct use-tests of key raw materials and document Definitive Lab Trials to confirm plant readiness.
• Maintain a detailed, organized laboratory notebook with accurate chemistry descriptions, observations, and analytical data to support technical packages, technical transfers, and 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 improvements and implement new technologies or procedures using scientific knowledge.
• Support troubleshooting and investigations related to process deviations, quality events, and non-conformances; collaborate on root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions.
• Create batch records and conduct scale-up experiments according to those records.
• Quantify processes and obtain mass balances for products and by-products.
• Collaborate across disciplines and organizational levels with engineers, analytical chemists, chemical technicians, and safety and quality representatives.

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: Senior