Associate Director - Infrastructure Architect

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.

About the role

This is an opportunity to join Lilly during an exciting period of growth as we invest in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Houston, Texas. The facility will focus on API manufacturing of Small Molecule and Oligonucleotides, utilizing the latest high-tech equipment, highly integrated and automated manufacturing systems, and sustainable practices. As the Infrastructure Architect, you will lead the strategy, delivery, and lifecycle management of site IT infrastructure, supporting Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Technical Services/Manufacturing Science. You will serve as the primary site contact for Global Infrastructure Delivery Teams and ensure alignment with Lilly cybersecurity and compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, deployment, and qualification of site IT/OT infrastructure, ensuring readiness for GMP manufacturing operations across small molecule, oligonucleotide, and Warehouse areas.
• Drive site start-up and integration of IT systems including: Infrastructure, Manufacturing Execution System (MES), Data Historian and Real Time Floor Tracking, Data Integration and Analytics, Data Integrity, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), CAPA systems, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Warehouse Management and Logistics, Access Security, Building Monitoring, and Risk Management.
• Monitor datacenter and virtual server environments, ensuring high availability, performance, and preventive maintenance.
• Manage storage, backup, and disaster recovery systems to safeguard data integrity and system resilience.
• Lead the full lifecycle of manufacturing computers, including procurement, qualification, patching, and decommissioning, in compliance with GxP and data integrity standards.
• Ensure network reliability and security across IT and OT environments, coordinating upgrades and troubleshooting activities.
• Collaborate with Automation and Engineering teams to integrate OT systems (DeltaV DCS, process historians) with enterprise IT layers, ensuring secure and reliable data flows aligned to ISA/IEC 62443 and Lilly cybersecurity standards.
• Coordinate with facilities, construction, and vendors to ensure infrastructure is installed, tested, and qualified in step with construction phases (fit-out through C&Q/IV/OV).
• Direct the day-to-day work priorities of a team of Infrastructure Analysts, assigning tasks and sequencing work aligned to project phases, site milestones, and operational needs.
• Serve as the technical point of contact for the analyst team, providing guidance, removing blockers, and ensuring work is executed to the required quality and timeline.
• Adjust workload allocation across the team as site priorities evolve through construction, commissioning, and production ramp phases.
• Ensure all infrastructure designs and implementations comply with Lilly cybersecurity standards, GxP data integrity requirements, and applicable regulatory guidelines (FDA, EMA).
• Maintain compliance with cybersecurity policies, IT standards, and documentation requirements including SOPs, system descriptions, and change control records.
• Oversee IT vendors and service providers to ensure SLA performance and drive continuous infrastructure improvement.
• Develop runbooks, escalation paths, and support models to sustain infrastructure from production ramp-up through steady-state operations.
• Establish monitoring, alerting, and capacity planning processes to meet manufacturing uptime requirements.
• Partner with local and global teams to define and execute the site IT infrastructure roadmap.
• Evaluate internal and external solutions and adjust plans based on site needs, strategic priorities, and emerging trends.
• Support site and enterprise initiatives focused on digital transformation, modernization, and operational efficiency.
• Maintain a safe work environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of IT infrastructure experience, preferably in a regulated manufacturing or pharmaceutical environment (GxP/GMP).
• 5+ years of people leadership experience.

Skills

• Experience supporting process automation infrastructure.
• Preferred certifications: ITIL, VMware VCP, Microsoft Azure Administrator, CompTIA Security+, or GICSP.
• Technical knowledge of OT/IT convergence, industrial control systems (ICS/SCADA/DCS), and OT security frameworks such as ISA/IEC 62443.
• Experience with Emerson DeltaV, OSIsoft PI Historian, Citrix, or similar manufacturing and infrastructure systems.

Schedule

• Role is Monday through Friday and based on-site at the Lilly Houston Manufacturing Facility.
• Must be flexible in providing support to accommodate production schedules, shutdowns, etc.
• Occasional extended hour and/or off-hour work may be required.
• 5–10% business travel time.

Pay

The anticipated wage for this position is $124,500 - $182,600. Full-time equivalent employees are also eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance).

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit program including medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits.
• Eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k) and pension.
• Vacation benefits and certain time off and leave of absence benefits.
• Flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts).
• Life insurance and death benefits.
• Well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).

Lilly IT builds and maintains capabilities using innovative technologies to advance our purpose—creating medicines that make life better for people around the world. We hire technology professionals from diverse backgrounds to deliver innovative solutions across our business.