Mixed Modality (Oligonucleotide) Scientist

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us. Overview: 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. Organization and Position Overview Lilly recently announced a $4.5 billion investment to create the Lilly Medicine Foundry, a new center for advanced manufacturing and drug development, Lebanon, Indiana. The first-ever facility of its kind, combining research and manufacturing in a single location, the Medicine Foundry will allow Lilly to further develop innovative solutions to optimize manufacturing processes and increase capacity for clinical trial medicines, while also reducing costs and environmental impact. The Process Translation and Execution (PTE) team translates API/DS process knowledge into clinical supply readiness, oversees technology transfer, implements phase-appropriate control strategies, and ensures right-first-time clinical manufacturing for a variety of modalities, including synthetic molecules, biologics, peptides, oligonucleotide, and bioconjugates (ADC, ARC, etc.) Through cross-functional collaboration, PTE influences process design, revolutionizes clinical manufacturing, builds capabilities in emerging technologies and aligns with corporate and Lilly Research Labs (LRL) goals, drives scientific excellence and innovation to accelerate manufacturing advancements and propels the site toward long-term business success. In the Foundry Construction and Project Delivery/Startup Phase (2025 to 2028), roles will be fluid and dynamic as we build a new organization, design and implement the necessary systems and business processes required to enable operational readiness, support the project delivery, and build the site culture. Success will require significant collaboration, creativity, and resilience as the Lilly Medicine Foundry transitions from design to startup and ultimately to steady-state operations and continuous improvement. This period presents a unique opportunity for learning, growth, and making a lasting impact. We are seeking passionate and agile scientist to join the PTE team and help bring the Lilly Medicine Foundry’s vision to life. Responsibilities In this role, the Mixed Modality (Oligonucleotide) Principal Scientist will be responsible with evaluating and facilitating the transfer of oligonucleotide manufacturing processes, under appropriate supervisory guidance, from development laboratories to pilot plant operations (including kilo-scale and isolator production environments). This enables the successful transition to early-phase cGMP manufacturing of grams to kilogram quantities of API required for clinical trial supply. Oversee the successful transfer of new oligonucleotide processes from development to manufacturing; ensure scalability and process fit to plant; apply scientific knowledge to troubleshoot production issues and implement new technologies or procedures. Assess and scale-up synthesis and purification methods from early phase process research and development labs Familiarity with performing oligonucleotide procedures, such as solid phase synthesis, preparative chromatography, TFF, & lyophilization. Evaluate the safety of the incoming procedures in collaboration with the safety group and process engineering. Analyze analytical data to make fact-based decisions. Efficient with summarizing and presenting chemistry and challenges. Lead familiarization executions to ensure plant readiness of process steps including synthesis, cleavage, purification, TFF, & lyophilization at the Lilly Medicine Foundry. Perform use-tests of key in-process materials and document Definitive Lab Trials of processes to confirm plant readiness. Documentation: Author, review technical documents, including tech transfer plan, standard operating procedures (SOPs), batch records, campaign summary reports, and deviation reports. Process improvement: Apply scientific knowledge to identify areas for improvement and implement new technologies or procedures. Lead process-related investigations, assess deviations, and support CAPAs; collaborate closely with CMC, Product R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality teams; provide on-floor support for critical operations and train/mentor junior scientists and technicians in PTE activities. Basic Requirements: B.S. or M.S. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, or a related discipline. B.S. with 10+ years or M.S. with 7+ years of experience in Oligonucleotide Product/Process Development, Manufacturing Technical Services, or related functional roles. 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 Preferences: Strong knowledge of oligonucleotide process (upstream or downstream), including synthesis, cleavage & deprotection, chromatography, conjugation, and aseptic processing. Proven ability to analyze data, perform root cause analysis, and resolve complex technical challenges; solid understanding of biopharmaceutical manufacturing principles and cGMP requirements. Demonstrated success in cross-functional, dynamic, and matrixed environments; excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical report writing, presentations, and team collaboration. Previous experience leading small projects, coordinating activities, and managing timelines; supervisory experience of junior scientists or technicians highly preferred. Proactive engagement with external innovation and industry trends; proven ability to champion accelerated adoption of transformative technologies in manufacturing environments. Experience with oligo synthesis and purification techniques used for developing and scaling-up process reactions. Experience using process chemistry concepts is a plus. Comfortable working with larger sized reactors and preparative columns, TFF, and related-equipment. Highly motivated, able to l