Associate Biologist – Automated Protein Expression

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 Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life‑changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people across the world.

The Biologics Automation and High‑throughput Technologies Group at the Lilly Biotechnology Center in San Diego is seeking a versatile Associate Scientist to accelerate early drug discovery through innovative protein expression and purification technologies. Join our dynamic team where you’ll leverage state‑of‑the‑art automated systems to drive breakthrough therapeutics from concept to reality. In this role, you will be at the forefront of high‑throughput biologics production, directly impacting the speed and success of our drug discovery pipeline.

• Mammalian cell line maintenance, including culture expansion, harvesting, and cryopreservation
• Master complex integrated liquid handling platforms to execute high‑throughput transfections and plate‑based purifications (protein A/G/HIS capture)
• Ensure scientific rigor through reagent preparation and validation, meticulous process documentation, QC execution, and expression performance monitoring
• Serve as a technical liaison between automation teams, requestors, and collaborators to optimize biological outcomes and resolve process challenges
• Drive improvement by identifying workflow bottlenecks, implementing innovative solutions, and expanding platform capabilities through independent initiative and collaborative partnerships
• Partner with antibody discovery, protein engineering, and purification teams across sites to share insights, accelerate learning, and anticipate evolving business needs

• Bachelor’s Degree in biological sciences (biology, molecular biology, biochemistry or similar disciplines)
• Experience in tissue culture (aseptic technique) required

• Technical Excellence:
  Understanding of protein expression and purification techniques preferred
• Hands‑on experience with automation equipment (e.g., Bio Mek liquid handlers, reagent dispensers) advantageous
• Experience with integrated liquid handling platforms and/or laboratory automation scheduling software not required but beneficial
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Programming skills, experience leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity and scientific workflows, and robust statistical background highly valued
• Strong data analysis capabilities with meticulous attention to detail

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate complex technical concepts
• Proven ability to excel both independently and within collaborative team environments
• Demonstrated learning agility and adaptability in fast‑paced settings
• Strong organizational and work planning capabilities

This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of biology and automation, where your contributions will directly accelerate the discovery of life‑changing medicines. You'll have access to industry‑leading technology, collaborate with world‑class…