Principal Automation Engineer – Building Management Systems
Eli Lilly and Company· startup· Pharmaceuticals· Oct 19, 2026 · 9d ago
US, Richmond VA
In office
Full-time
Principal
$68K–$174K
3+ years exp
Job description
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 40,000 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.
Lilly is building a next-generation biotech drug substance manufacturing facility in Richmond, VA—our most technically advanced site to date. This greenfield facility will feature cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and advanced data platforms designed to drive improvements in safety, quality, and productivity. This is a rare opportunity to shape an organization, a facility, and a culture from the ground up.
Responsibilities:
The Principal Automation Engineer – Building Management Systems is a mid-level automation engineering position that will support the design and delivery of the automation platforms and associated system integration as part of Lilly’s manufacturing expansion. This role is intended to support manufacturing and admin buildings to design and deliver the site Building Management Systems (sometimes referred to as Building Automation Systems). Key responsibilities include system design, process design, delivery strategy, factory acceptance testing, and installation and system commissioning.
During the design and delivery (startup expected 2029 to 2030) of the project this role will be integrated into the corporate automation team GPACE (Global Process Automation & Control Engineering) and then transition fully to a site-based process team position. During delivery, this role will collaborate with A&E firms, system integrators, corporate and site engineering peers, and Tech Lilly (Lilly’s corporate IT team) to develop and manage software/hardware design, testing, startup, commissioning, and qualification. Post-project delivery, this role will support the site engineering function. This role will require significant collaboration, creativity and resilience as the site grows to a full scale GMP manufacturing site through start up.
Key Deliverables:
Champion a strong safety culture, mentor and coach others, and utilize engineering and automation fundamental principles in design and problem solving.
Collaborate with Lilly Engineering, A&E firms, and system integrators to develop requirements and specifications that will be the foundation for software development, hardware design, and system architecture.
Support the design and delivery, collaborating with Lilly’s A&E and selected Building Management System supplier, of the site BMS platform.
Support the design and delivery of AF&ID’s, P&ID’s, instrument specifications, sequences of operation, panel design, and testing strategies for the BMS platforms.
Collaborate with Tech Lilly to deliver a fully integrated Automation solution that is scaled for the needs of business if applicable.
Participate in basic and detailed design that also includes staffing, statements of work, supplier management, and delivery strategies for automation systems.
Develop and build BMS capabilities within the Richmond site automation team.
Develop site procedures for BMS platforms and associated administration activities.
Provide technical oversight during development of BMS and related design review documentation to ensure the BMS is appropriate for intended purpose.
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related applicable discipline required.
3 years of experience in Building Management or Building Automation Systems
Previous large project/program experience.
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 Skills/Preferences:
3 years of experience in Process Automation with experience on Rockwell Automation Platforms, JCI Metasys, or Siemens Desigo preferred. Related control system platforms will be considered.
Manufacturing experience.
Start Up/Commissioning experience.
Technical knowledge in process instrumentation.
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
Ability to collaborate with others.
Additional Information:
Potential for travel (less than 20% - could be domestic and/or international) to support system, factory acceptance testing, and training.
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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 ( careers.lilly.com ) 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 (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$67,500 - $173,800
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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401(K)