Associate Director - Engineering - Process (Oligonucleotides)
Eli Lilly and Company
June 24, 2026
On-site
Houston, TX
Operations
Responsibilities
Pre-Startup and Startup Phase:
- Attract, hire, and onboard top talents to the Oligonucleotides Process Engineering team.
- Build the organization and capability/capacity/culture to operate to standards of safety, quality, and operational excellence.
- Develop and implement business systems and processes for site operations.
- Establish lean practices and a continuous improvement mindset.
- Support project teams with design decisions, commissioning & qualification strategies, and delivery to end users.
- Collaborate to ensure project decisions meet deliverables and strategic site goals.
- Organize and implement strategy for engineering SOPs for startup and post-startup phases.
- Plan and manage operational expenses, capital, and headcount targets.
Post Startup:
- Supervise and coach process engineering staff; complete performance reviews and development planning.
- Provide oversight of staffing (recruitment, resource planning, succession planning).
- Coordinate process engineering work and provide input to key functional groups/partners.
- Set and reinforce engineering standards and first-principles utilization; influence technical agenda, business plan objectives, and GMP Quality Plan objectives.
- Identify, track, and report key indicators of functional performance.
- Oversee engineering technical issues and improvement initiatives; review/approve deviations and change controls.
- Review/approve engineering SOPs and ensure technical review/approval for investigations, validations, annual product reviews, manufacturing tickets, procedures, process flow documents, technical studies, etc.
- Network across similar technologies to share best practices and align controls between sites.
Basic Qualifications
- BS in Chemical Engineering (or another engineering discipline) with extensive API or chemical manufacturing experience.
- 3+ years in Oligonucleotides or similar synthetic protein GMP manufacturing.
- 3+ years of manufacturing leadership.
Additional Skills/Preferences
- Experience with operations including Process Safety Management (PSM).
- Knowledge/understanding of cGMPs and application to operations.
- Strong cross-functional relationship building and communication.
- Experience developing high-performing teams and building safety- and innovation-focused cultures.
- Ability to lead/influence a diverse team and work independently.
Benefits
- Eligible for company bonus and comprehensive benefits including 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave, and well-being benefits.
Application Instructions
- If you require accommodation to submit a resume, complete the workplace accommodation request form: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation
Pre-Startup and Startup Phase:
- Attract, hire, and onboard top talents to the Oligonucleotides Process Engineering team.
- Build the organization and capability/capacity/culture to operate to standards of safety, quality, and operational excellence.
- Develop and implement business systems and processes for site operations.
- Establish lean practices and a continuous improvement mindset.
- Support project teams with design decisions, commissioning & qualification strategies, and delivery to end users.
- Collaborate to ensure project decisions meet deliverables and strategic site goals.
- Organize and implement strategy for engineering SOPs for startup and post-startup phases.
- Plan and manage operational expenses, capital, and headcount targets.
Post Startup:
- Supervise and coach process engineering staff; complete performance reviews and development planning.
- Provide oversight of staffing (recruitment, resource planning, succession planning).
- Coordinate process engineering work and provide input to key functional groups/partners.
- Set and reinforce engineering standards and first-principles utilization; influence technical agenda, business plan objectives, and GMP Quality Plan objectives.
- Identify, track, and report key indicators of functional performance.
- Oversee engineering technical issues and improvement initiatives; review/approve deviations and change controls.
- Review/approve engineering SOPs and ensure technical review/approval for investigations, validations, annual product reviews, manufacturing tickets, procedures, process flow documents, technical studies, etc.
- Network across similar technologies to share best practices and align controls between sites.
Basic Qualifications
- BS in Chemical Engineering (or another engineering discipline) with extensive API or chemical manufacturing experience.
- 3+ years in Oligonucleotides or similar synthetic protein GMP manufacturing.
- 3+ years of manufacturing leadership.
Additional Skills/Preferences
- Experience with operations including Process Safety Management (PSM).
- Knowledge/understanding of cGMPs and application to operations.
- Strong cross-functional relationship building and communication.
- Experience developing high-performing teams and building safety- and innovation-focused cultures.
- Ability to lead/influence a diverse team and work independently.
Benefits
- Eligible for company bonus and comprehensive benefits including 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave, and well-being benefits.
Application Instructions
- If you require accommodation to submit a resume, complete the workplace accommodation request form: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation