Senior Principal Scientist – Process Chemist

Company: Eli Lilly and Company
Location: Indianapolis
Posted on: March 3, 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. Organization and Position Overview: Reporting to the Senior Advisor—Chemist, the Senior Principal Scientist - Chemist will be responsible for leading efforts in designing and planning syntheses, purifications, and characterization of organic molecules from R&D through early and late phase clinical stages. The candidate will work closely with partner organizations and vendors to advance Lilly's radioligand precursor programs and ensure that radioligand precursors and standards are available as required to support manufacture and testing of downstream radioligand products. The Senior Principal Scientist – Chemist will serve as a technical expert working with external partners and internal stakeholders, working closely with discovery, pre-clinical, translational, quality and regulatory teams to ensure targets meet phase-appropriate requirements and program timelines. This position will be within the Precursor team which is part of the Early Phase CMC group. Responsibilities: Design and oversee the synthesis, purification, and characterization of radioligand precursors and related compounds, ensuring all synthesized compounds meet phase-appropriate specifications and quality standards throughout development, from R&D through early and late phase clinical stages. Act as the primary point of contact and technical expert in directing CDMOs and other vendors on the design and synthesis of raw materials and radioligand precursors; establish and maintain collaborative relationships to ensure timely delivery of quality compounds that meet overall program goals and timelines. Work seamlessly with discovery, pre-clinical, translational, quality, and regulatory teams to align compound specifications with phase-appropriate requirements and support regulatory submissions and compliance activities. Monitor and evaluate project budgets, tasks, and timelines; identify potential risks and propose mitigation plans to ensure deadlines are met and resources are used efficiently. Ensure adherence to all applicable GLP/GMP principles, regulatory guidelines, company policies, and quality standards; embody and promote a quality-first culture with a "right-the-first-time" approach across all activities. Provide clear, concise verbal and written reports, technical documentation, and presentations to management and cross-functional teams; effectively communicate complex chemical information to both technical and non-technical audiences. Remain engaged in fast-paced team environments, execute with a sense of urgency, and perform additional duties as assigned to support program objectives. Basic Requirements: Master's degree in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, organometallic chemistry or related field (PhD's will not be considered for this position). 2 years of experience in modern synthetic chemistry, including designing and executing multi-step syntheses, purification techniques (e.g., chromatography, crystallization), and characterization techniques including HPLC, NMR, MS, etc. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary team settings and manage relationships with external partners and vendors Ability to execute with high attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and extreme sense of urgency. Strong oral and written communication skills with ability to articulate complex scientific concepts clearly Strong scientific, analytical, and project management skills Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) 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: Experience designing and working with metal chelators and radioligand chemistry is considered an asset. Experience working in a pharmaceutical GMP manufacturing environment Functional knowledge of GMPs and applicable FDA, EMA, Health Canada, USP, ICH and PDA guidelines is strongly preferred Experience with regulatory submissions (IND, CTA, IMPD) Familiarity with project management tools and systems. Demonstrates composure and maintains effectiveness in fast-paced, dynamic environments Lilly is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. WeAreLilly 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 $65,250 - $169,400 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

Keywords: Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis , Senior Principal Scientist – Process Chemist, Science, Research & Development , Indianapolis, Indiana