Advisor, Viral Vector Process Development and Molecular Biology

Overview

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.

At Eli Lilly, we are advancing transformative gene therapies to address serious unmet medical needs. We are looking for a talented Advisor / Senior Advisor, Process Development to join our team and play a critical role in shaping the future of viral vector manufacturing. In this role, you will combine deep expertise in molecular biology with process development to design and optimize cutting-edge viral vector production systems.

You’ll collaborate with a highly cross-functional team to bring innovative gene therapy products from concept to reality.

• Design and optimize viral vector production systems, including plasmid architecture, transfection strategies and vector genome configurations.
• Lead upstream development efforts, optimizing culture performance, yield, and product quality
• Drive cell line and producer system development, including characterization and improvement initiatives
• Partner across functions (analytical, formulation, CMC, external collaborators) to accelerate development
• Author technical and regulatory documentation (reports, protocols, IND-enabling content)
• Mentor and develop junior scientists, contributing to a strong, collaborative team culture
• Stay at the forefront of innovation, integrating emerging technologies and industry best practices

• PhD in molecular biology, cell biology, virology, biochemistry, or related field with OR Master’s degree with 6+ years of relevant industry experience
• Hands-on expertise in molecular biology and cloning techniques
• Experience working in a BSL-2 laboratory environment

• Deep experience in plasmid design (e.g., ITR configurations, helper plasmids, transgene cassette optimization)
• Background in gene therapy or viral vectors (e.g., AAV, lentivirus)
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and cell line development
• Familiarity with analytical readouts (ddPCR, genome integrity, full/empty characterization) and how they inform process decisions
• Proficiency in data analysis, interpretation, and presentation
• Strong problem-solving mindset with a focus on mechanistic understanding, not just empiricism
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex science into clear insights

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 () 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. Current groups include Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).

Actual compensation will depend on a…