Position Description and Responsibilities
The Advisor - Computational Modeling will provide diverse modeling expertise and develop computational models that drive decisions to design new manufacturing processes and improve existing ones across Lilly's global manufacturing network. This role applies modeling techniques across a broad range of domains — including physical properties, unit operations, scale-up, numerical and multiphysics simulation, discrete event simulation, and resource and operational logistics optimization — to support both continuous/batch process operations and discrete manufacturing operations such as parenteral fill/finish, device assembly, and packaging. A core focus of the role is the development of Digital Twin computational models that provide online modeling capabilities to manufacturing facilities, in alignment with the Engineering Digital Strategy for Manufacturing and Quality within Lilly. This is a global role, supporting functional initiatives and all Lilly Manufacturing sites globally.
This role is a technical engineering role at the R4–R6 level on the Tech Ladder, requiring a minimum MS degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, or a related field. The position requires deep technical expertise in computational modeling and simulation, strong fundamentals in the underlying physics, mathematics, and first-principles concepts from which models are formulated, and the ability to complement model-based solutions with laboratory investigation, empirical validation, or validation against site operating data when appropriate. The engineer will partner with the data leads within the DME team to ensure necessary data is available to support their models, and will work closely with manufacturing site process and plant engineers, corporate function engineers, and development engineers/scientists to deliver rigorous technical solutions.
The primary focus of the role is to develop and deploy simulation and optimization models that increase manufacturing capacity, resilience, compliance, and inspection readiness, and that support operational excellence goals for safety, quality, and supply. The engineer will also serve as an internal advocate for first-principles and model-based methods, fostering the use of modeling tools by colleagues outside DME through instruction, consultation, and the development of internal collaborations.
Key Objectives/Deliverables
- Develop and deploy simulation and optimization models to drive decisions that help design new and/or improve existing manufacturing and logistics processes.
- Apply a broad range of modeling techniques as appropriate to the problem — including steady-state and dynamic process simulation, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and multiphysics simulation, discrete event simulation, and nonlinear/mixed-integer optimization — across both continuous/batch and discrete manufacturing domains.
- Develop Digital Twin computational models to provide online modeling capabilities to Lilly manufacturing facilities.
- Deliver sound interpretation of modeling results by maintaining in-depth knowledge of the underlying physics, first-principles concepts, and numerical methods from which models are formulated and solved.
- Complement model-based solutions with laboratory investigation, empirical validation, or validation against site operating data when appropriate.
- Prepare internal technical reports to document work and to contribute to the product or process body of knowledge, and when appropriate, publish and/or present work externally.
- Maintain and grow the functional value of modeling within Lilly by developing appropriate internal collaborations and sharing key learnings broadly at appropriate internal forums so colleagues can identify projects that may benefit from model-based analysis.
- Foster the use of modeling tools by colleagues outside DME by providing instruction, consultation, and continuously advocating the use of first-principles techniques and model-based methods.
- Identify and implement modeling advances that bring value to Lilly by maintaining awareness of new developments in the external modeling landscape.
- Develop collaborations with appropriate external partners to help manage workload and to gain additional expertise.
- Partner with data leads within DME to provide data requirements that support computational models and Digital Twin solutions.
Basic Qualifications
- Minimum MS degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, or a related field.
- Minimum of 4 years of related work experience (graduate research included).
- Experience developing models in one or more of the following: steady-state simulation, dynamic simulation, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), discrete event simulation, nonlinear programming, or mixed-integer linear programming.
Additional Skills/Preferences
- Strong technical writing and presentation skills.
- Capability to solve complex issues with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of the underlying physics, first-principles concepts, and numerical methods from which computational models are formulated and solved.
- Experience with chemical process modeling, scale-up, and unit operation simulation.
- Experience with capacity analysis, line balancing, scheduling, or logistics optimization in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience developing simulation and optimization models leveraging commercial software tools such as ANSYS-Fluent®, M-Star®, COMSOL®, aspenONE®, AFT Fathom®, ExtendSim®, or Frontline Solver®.
- Experience with statistical analysis and data/model fitting leveraging commercial software tools such as JMP® or similar.
- Experience developing digital twins of manufacturing processes or production lines.
- Experience working with validated systems and in a GMP/pharmaceutical industry environment.
- Ability to work well across different cultures and global manufacturing sites.
Additional Information
- Monday through Friday Day Shift of 7:30am-4:30pm with some allowance for flex time.
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Travel: Limited Domestic and International travel required (less than 10%)
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$129,000 - $209,000
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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