Medicinal Chemist; R5 – R7

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 more than 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.

Medicinal Chemist (R5‑R7) – responsible for formulating hypotheses, designing and synthesizing novel small molecules, and optimizing lead compounds to improve potency, selectivity, physicochemical properties, and ADMET to meet target product profiles for high‑quality medicines. The role includes collaborating with external CRO chemistry resources, directing SAR iterations through proposal and execution of synthetic routines, maintaining a strong safety culture, and partnering cross‑functionally to address program needs and provide medicinal chemistry perspectives.

• Master’s degree in Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related chemistry discipline and a minimum of 4 years of academic or employment experience in synthetic organic chemistry or medicinal chemistry; or a PhD in the same fields with at least 1 year of experience.
• Minimum experience:
  
  1 year supporting drug discovery at the molecular design stage, 1 year improving in‑vitro and in‑vivo potency, selectivity, and ADMET properties, and 1 year with new modalities including targeted protein degradations, siRNA, ADCs, and oral peptides.
• Up to 10% domestic and/or international travel required.

Indianapolis, IN.

Annual base salary range: $ – $. Full‑time employees are eligible for company bonuses, a 401(k) plan, pension, vacation benefits, medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare, dependent day‑care flexible spending accounts), life insurance, death benefits, leave of absence benefits, and well‑being benefits such as employee assistance programs, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities. Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs at its sole discretion.

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.