Principal Engineer - Systems at Eli Lilly and Company

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 around the world.

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location.  The anticipated wage for this position is

Organization Overview:

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 around the world.

The Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Principal Engineer is responsible for the deployment and continuous improvement of the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) at RTP. This role will pair technical mastery of MES for drug product operations with cross-functional collaboration to expand the MES footprint as part of the overall site ramp-up in alignment with RTP business objectives and IT standards.

Responsibilities:

MES Delivery

•    Execute the deployment of MES Electronic Batch Record (EBR) and associated ancillary electronic tickets to 7 new manufacturing lines in 2025-2026.
•    Provide technical support to migrate Electronic Batch Record (EBR) and associated ancillary electronic tickets for existing manufacturing lines from a legacy MES to a modern MES, according to global program timelines.
•    Collaborate with cross-functional business partners in Supply Chain, Engineering/Process Automation, Quality, Operations, Learning & Development, and global counterparts to ensure integration of MES with existing site intralogistics system for automated material movement.

MES Technical Support
•    Foster a continuous improvement culture by identifying and adopting process improvements, both in EBR design and MES support processes.
•    Partner with peer MES engineers and cross-functional business partners (Supply Chain, Engineering/Process Automation, Quality, Operations) to deliver and monitor outcomes.
•    Support the site MES deployment roadmap, incorporating digital plant initiatives such as wearables, handhelds, advanced analytics, AI, and evolving expectations for quality, safety, and information security.
•    Provide ongoing communication on projects, issues, and milestones through usage of LEAN and Agile principles.
•    Participate in 24x7 support coverage as an escalation contact according to an established support rotation.

Site IT Support
•    Provide input to the tactical direction of the RTP IT organization as a member of the RTP MES team.
•    Promote a culture of compliance and advocate for quality improvement practices in EBR design and maintenance. 
•    Comply with the organization's safety goals and objectives and incorporate safety principles into MES design, as applicable.
•    Provide technical support to peer MES engineers and cross-functional MES colleagues, consistent with Lilly values, emphasizing knowledge management, accountability, and continuous improvement.

External Focus
•    Build relationships with MES peers at other Drug Product and Parenteral Product sites within Lilly, with an emphasis on benchmarking and knowledge sharing. 
 

Basic Qualifications/ Requirements:

•    Bachelor's Degree in IT, Engineering, or related discipline.
•    4+ years' experience in IT and/or Engineering Automation/control systems-related fields.
•    3+ years' experience with design, development, testing, delivery, and support of Electronic Batch Record(s) using Rockwell PharmaSuite.
•    Previous experience supporting drug product and packaging manufacturing operations for human health pharmaceuticals.
•    Understanding of ISA-95 network infrastructure and internal DMZ
•    Technology experience including Windows OS, Linux OS, Oracle SQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Citrix, Kepware, and ServiceNow.
•    Willing to temporarily work irregular hours, shifts, and weekends for facility startup.
•    Experience maintaining Computer Systems Validation in line with pharmaceutical computer system quality regulations (e.g. cGMP's, FDA 21 CFR Part 11) and other applicable regulations (e.g. privacy, OSHA).
•    Demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams with a strong customer service focus.
•    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
•    Highly motivated and self-starter.

Additional Skills/Preferences:

•    Experience designing, developing, testing, delivering, and supporting Electronic Batch Record(s) using Rockwell PMX.
•    Experience with manufacturing systems such as warehouse management, automated storage & retrieval, SAP, and robotics.
•    Previous experience with Agile or LEAN.
•    Adaptability and flexibility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
•    Experience working in a global organization.
•    Experience with integrating wearable technology within manufacturing operations.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the job requirements at the time it was prepared.  The job requirements of any position may change over time and may include additional responsibilities not described explicitly in the job description. For GMP purposes, the job description should be updated to include significant changes.  As always, you should consult with your supervisor regarding your actual job responsibilities and any related duties that may be required for the position.

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 (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) 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 an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, 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 help our company develop talented individuals for future leadership roles. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, African American Network, Chinese Culture Network, Early Career Professionals, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinos at Lilly, PRIDE (LGBTQ + Allies), Veterans Leadership Network, Women’s Network, Working and Living with Disabilities. Learn more about all of our groups.

Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

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