Sr Director - Engineering (Automation, Maintenance, Process)
Eli Lilly and Company
August 24, 2026
On-site
Huntsville, AL
Operations
Position Overview
The Senior Director leads the site’s process-facing engineering functions—process engineering, automation, and maintenance—to support site startup and long-term manufacturing goals, providing both administrative and technical leadership for engineering operations.
Responsibilities
Pre-Startup & Startup Phase
- Collaborate with the Site Lead Team to build a capable, inclusive, and resilient organization focused on safety, quality, and operational excellence.
- Define priorities and roadmap for process engineering, automation, and maintenance; develop systems and processes using internal expertise and external best practices.
- Contribute to the site HSE Lead Team to embed safety throughout project delivery and startup.
- Serve as end user for process equipment; provide input on design, commissioning, and startup plans.
- Design and evolve the engineering organization for GMP manufacturing resources and leadership.
- Ensure qualified and safe states for equipment, processes, utilities, and facilities are established and maintained.
- Build technical relationships with corporate teams and champion strategic initiatives at the site level.
Post-Startup Phase
- Execute and refine the engineering roadmap aligned to site priorities.
- Ensure adherence to corporate policies/standards across environmental, safety, and quality.
- Identify and apply best practices through external benchmarking.
- Partner with Facilities Engineering on capital projects aligned with site objectives.
- Maintain equipment in qualified and safe state; ensure maintenance is performed/documented to standards.
- Establish/maintain robust control systems; escalate issues appropriately.
- Cultivate future technical and managerial leaders.
Basic Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
- 10+ years leading teams in the pharmaceutical industry.
Additional Preferences
- API manufacturing experience; experience implementing a Process Safety Management program.
- Strong cGMP knowledge.
- Ability to build relationships across organizational levels.
- Proven project leadership (initiation to completion; timelines, budgets, performance).
- Track record developing high-performing teams focused on safety, quality, and culture.
Benefits (if applicable)
- Eligibility for company bonus (based on performance).
- Comprehensive benefits including 401(k) eligibility, pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription coverage, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave benefits, and well-being benefits.
Application Instruction
- If you need accommodation to submit a resume, complete the accommodation request form: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation
The Senior Director leads the site’s process-facing engineering functions—process engineering, automation, and maintenance—to support site startup and long-term manufacturing goals, providing both administrative and technical leadership for engineering operations.
Responsibilities
Pre-Startup & Startup Phase
- Collaborate with the Site Lead Team to build a capable, inclusive, and resilient organization focused on safety, quality, and operational excellence.
- Define priorities and roadmap for process engineering, automation, and maintenance; develop systems and processes using internal expertise and external best practices.
- Contribute to the site HSE Lead Team to embed safety throughout project delivery and startup.
- Serve as end user for process equipment; provide input on design, commissioning, and startup plans.
- Design and evolve the engineering organization for GMP manufacturing resources and leadership.
- Ensure qualified and safe states for equipment, processes, utilities, and facilities are established and maintained.
- Build technical relationships with corporate teams and champion strategic initiatives at the site level.
Post-Startup Phase
- Execute and refine the engineering roadmap aligned to site priorities.
- Ensure adherence to corporate policies/standards across environmental, safety, and quality.
- Identify and apply best practices through external benchmarking.
- Partner with Facilities Engineering on capital projects aligned with site objectives.
- Maintain equipment in qualified and safe state; ensure maintenance is performed/documented to standards.
- Establish/maintain robust control systems; escalate issues appropriately.
- Cultivate future technical and managerial leaders.
Basic Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
- 10+ years leading teams in the pharmaceutical industry.
Additional Preferences
- API manufacturing experience; experience implementing a Process Safety Management program.
- Strong cGMP knowledge.
- Ability to build relationships across organizational levels.
- Proven project leadership (initiation to completion; timelines, budgets, performance).
- Track record developing high-performing teams focused on safety, quality, and culture.
Benefits (if applicable)
- Eligibility for company bonus (based on performance).
- Comprehensive benefits including 401(k) eligibility, pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription coverage, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave benefits, and well-being benefits.
Application Instruction
- If you need accommodation to submit a resume, complete the accommodation request form: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation