Principal Scientist — Synthetic Chemist / Peptide Therapeutics (Indianapolis)

Company: Eli Lilly and Company
Location: Indianapolis
Posted on: March 25, 2026

Job Description:

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. This is a lab-based position in the Peptide Therapeutics Team within Biotechnology Discovery Research in Indianapolis. The individual will synthesize, purify, characterize, and optimize therapeutic peptides and bioconjugates in support of preclinical drug discovery and development efforts. This role requires a skilled bench scientist who contributes meaningfully to structure-activity relationship (SAR) campaigns — not only generating target molecules but also analyzing data, interpreting results, and making design recommendations that help advance projects from concept toward candidate selection. The individual will work closely with fellow chemists and cross-functional partners across such areas as Discovery Chemistry, Genetic Medicines, Therapeutic Area teams, ADME, and Bioproduct Development. Skilled synthetic chemists with limited peptide chemistry experience and deeper expertise in areas such as small molecules, oligonucleotides, or protein conjugation are welcome to apply. KEY OBJECTIVES/DELIVERABLES: Synthesis & SAR Contribution: Utilize state-of-the-art synthesis techniques to drive compound generation, including peptide synthesis, purification, and characterization. Propose alternative synthetic strategies and overcome synthetic challenges. Analyze and interpret structure-activity relationships to make informed design recommendations that move projects forward. Data Integration & Problem-Solving: Apply a data-driven approach to experimental planning. Search and integrate relevant chemical and scientific literature to inform design choices. Develop growing expertise in areas such as physicochemical characterization and pharmaceutical developability as they relate to peptide optimization. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with chemists, biologists, and scientists from other disciplines and drug modalities in a team-oriented environment. Communicate results clearly through verbal presentations, written reports, and accurate documentation of experimental procedures. Contribute to an inclusive and supportive team culture. Scientific Growth & Engagement: Demonstrate a desire to understand how bench work connects to broader drug discovery goals. Stay current with relevant literature and bring new ideas to the group. Seek out opportunities to expand technical capabilities and take on diverse scientific challenges as they arise. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: B.S. in chemistry or a related field with at least 5 years of experience, OR M.S. in chemistry or a related field with at least 3 years of experience. A comprehensive understanding of synthetic peptide chemistry and/or organic chemistry. Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1. ADDITIONAL PREFERENCES: Experience with peptide synthesis instrumentation, purification, and analysis by HPLC and mass spectrometry. Skilled synthetic organic chemists with a desire to transition to peptide therapeutics are encouraged to apply. Experience with bioconjugation chemistry (e.g., conjugation of small molecules, oligonucleotides, carbohydrates, fluorescent labels, and/or proteins to synthetic peptides or other modalities). Familiarity with macrocyclic peptide synthesis, characterization, or optimization. Familiarity with computational methods for structure-based drug design. Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively as part of diverse cross-functional teams. An eagerness to present work and understand its impact on drug discovery efforts. 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 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. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups. Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $65,250 - $169,400 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. WeAreLilly

Keywords: Eli Lilly and Company, Terre Haute , Principal Scientist — Synthetic Chemist / Peptide Therapeutics (Indianapolis), Science, Research & Development , Indianapolis, Indiana