Advisor, LNP Process Development and Platform Innovation

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.

The Advanced Delivery Systems (ADS) team, part of the Delivery Devices and Connected Solutions (DDCS) organization, is Lilly's engine for innovation and development in nonviral delivery. The organization's formulation, analytical, process, and platform capabilities span lipid nanoparticle (LNP) systems, particulate formulations, long-acting injectables, and injection physiology. The team is also investing in new delivery platforms to support a growing portfolio of genetic medicines, including RNA-based therapies and other nonviral delivery vehicles.

We are seeking a scientist with a background in nonviral delivery systems and drug products to play a dual role: driving platform innovation for next-generation delivery systems and manufacturing processes, and supporting development efforts to advance portfolio assets. Located at the Lilly Seaport Innovation Center in Boston, this position seeks a candidate with hands-on experience in process development of nonviral delivery vehicles, e.g., RNA-lipid nanoparticles, along with a self-driven, innovative mindset, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams.

Drive the team's RNA-LNP innovation agenda through publications, presentations, and industry influence. Build a platform process toolbox across formulations and scales, using mechanistic understanding and modeling to flag risks early and accelerate development across the Lilly portfolio.

Develop mechanistic understanding of key RNA-LNP unit operations, including rapid-mixing nanoprecipitation, tangential flow filtration, conjugation, and sterile filtration, and of how process design impacts critical quality attributes such as particle size, polydispersity, encapsulation efficiency, RNA integrity, and lipid content, utilizing state-of-the-art analytical techniques.

Build process capabilities at lab, early-phase clinical, and scale-up scales, and evaluate and implement new manufacturing and characterization technologies for RNA-LNP drug products.

Advance RNA-LNP portfolio assets from scale-up through early-phase clinical manufacture: mitigate scale-up risks, support project management and technical leaders in executing complex tech transfers to internal and external manufacturing sites, support GMP readiness, and implement processes to deliver clinical trial material.

Ensure consistent technical deliverables and documentation across RNA-LNP transfers, including authoring technical reports and drug product CMC sections of early-phase regulatory filings, generating supporting data, and addressing health-authority CMC questions with support from colleagues.

Work across the discovery-development interface, engaging early with discovery colleagues to identify risks and accelerate the progression of candidates into development.

Establish and leverage strategic relationships with academic and industry partners, CDMOs, and vendors to accelerate and access emerging innovation in RNA-LNP delivery.

Mentor and develop junior scientists, associates, and interns, and review protocols, technical…