1

Contract Process Engineer Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Contract Responsibilities: - Support process control systems, PLC/HMI platforms, instrumentation ... engineering, operations, vendors, and project teams on controls improvements - Support ...

Simtra BioPharma Solutions (Simtra) is a world-class Contract Development Manufacturing ... The Process Engineering Manager ensures projects, protocols and planned activities meet committed ...

The Process (Level I) Automation Engineer is responsible for all field automated processes in the ... Union Contract). * Follows all company policies as outlined in the current NLMK Policies ...

Process Automation Engineer As a Process Automation Engineer, you will support the Clinton ... internal/contract resources, scheduling, and issue resolution * Identify and implement process ...

Showing results 21-40

Contract Process Engineer information

See Indiana salary details

$47.1K

$87.6K

$135.6K

How much do contract process engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract process engineer in Indiana is $87,561.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,900.00 and $98,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract process engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Process Engineer, you need a solid background in chemical or process engineering, experience with process optimization, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with process simulation software (like Aspen HYSYS or CHEMCAD), project management tools, and safety compliance standards is typically expected. Strong analytical thinking, effective communication, and adaptability are valuable soft skills for managing changing project requirements and collaborating with diverse teams. These skills ensure efficient, safe, and cost-effective process improvements that meet contractual obligations and client expectations.

Do contract process engineers make more money?

Contract process engineers often earn higher hourly rates compared to full-time employees due to the temporary nature of their work and specialized skills. However, they may have less job security and benefits, and total annual income can vary based on project duration and industry demand. Experience, certifications, and technical expertise can also influence earning potential in this role.

How much does a contract process engineer get paid?

A contract process engineer typically earns between $30 and $70 per hour, depending on experience, industry, and location. Salaries can vary based on project scope, certifications, and the complexity of processes managed.

What is a contract process engineer?

Contract Process Engineers are professionals who are hired on a temporary or project-specific basis to design, optimize, and troubleshoot industrial processes within a company. They often work in industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, or manufacturing, providing technical expertise to improve production efficiency, safety, and quality. Their responsibilities may include process design, equipment specification, project management, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Because they work on a contract basis, their assignments may vary in length and scope depending on the needs of the employer.

What is the difference between Contract Process Engineer vs Process Engineer?

AspectContract Process EngineerProcess Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, relevant certifications (e.g., Six Sigma)Bachelor's or higher in Engineering, similar certifications
Work EnvironmentContract-based, project-specific, often in industrial or manufacturing settingsFull-time, ongoing roles in manufacturing, chemical, or industrial plants
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by companies hiring temporary or project-based engineersEmployed by companies for continuous process improvement and operations
Search & Comparison IntentCommonly compared for project-based roles and contract workCompared for permanent roles in process optimization

The Contract Process Engineer typically works on temporary, project-specific assignments, focusing on process improvements within a set timeframe. In contrast, the Process Engineer holds a permanent position, overseeing ongoing operations and continuous process optimization. Both roles require similar qualifications but differ mainly in employment type and work scope.

What types of projects or industries do contract process engineers typically work on, and how does this influence their daily responsibilities?

Contract Process Engineers often work on short- to medium-term assignments across industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, oil and gas, and manufacturing. The nature of their projects can range from process optimization and troubleshooting to equipment commissioning and plant upgrades. Depending on the industry and project scope, daily responsibilities may include conducting process simulations, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, preparing technical documentation, and ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. This variety allows for broad experience, but also requires adaptability and strong communication skills to integrate quickly with new teams and workflows.
What are the most commonly searched types of Process Engineer jobs in Indiana? The most popular types of Process Engineer jobs in Indiana are:
What job categories do people searching Contract Process Engineer jobs in Indiana look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Process Engineer jobs in Indiana are:
What cities in Indiana are hiring for Contract Process Engineer jobs? Cities in Indiana with the most Contract Process Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Contract Process Engineer job openings in Indiana as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $87,561 per year, or $42.1 per hour.

Principal Process Engineer - API External Manufacturing Small Molecule

Eli Lilly and Company

Indianapolis, IN • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago


Eli Lilly and Company rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 63 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 86 rated pharmaceutical


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.


Position Brand Description:

The position of Principle Process Engineer - API EM Small Molecule reports to the API EM Engineering Director and provides technical leadership and expertise in conjunction with API EM contract manufacturer personnel in the reliable supply and commercialization of medicines with safety first and quality always by:

  • Developing and sustaining process knowledge in order to ensure the execution of the appropriate product, process, and operational control strategy at a number of Contract Manufacturers (CMs)

  • Assessment of the suitability of proposed equipment sets to ensure success of process validations

  • Direct and Indirect interaction with CM personnel to ensure reliable supply via the CM execution of the operational control strategy

  • FUME assessment to ensure an understanding of risk presented to the operational control strategy

  • Participation with internal or CM resources in the equipment specification, procurement, and IQ/OQ/PQ

  • Participation with internal and CM resources to assess the HSE and PSM elements of the CM that impact Lilly products

  • Engaged with internal and external resources in developing capabilities with new or evolving technologies that may impact delivery of internal or external portfolio assets.

  • Adherence to the expectations of the Lilly Red Book when carrying out interactions with API EM's CMs.

Key Objectives/Deliverables:Coach and Mentor Process Team Members
  • Utilize past experiences with unit operation control to provide insight and feedback to members of the CM Joint Process Team (JPT).

  • Champion the application of statistical thinking and use of data to monitor process performance and make engineering decisions with CM members of the JPT.

  • Support and peer review root cause analysis around FUME and operational incidents.

  • Peer review documentation of learning points, technical studies, and incident investigations.

ScaleUp & Tech Transfer

  • Lead/support tech transfers and scaleup from development through PV and commercial supply.

  • Translate process intent into operating strategies, equipment fit/gap, batch documentation, and PV readiness at CMs.

  • Support engineering runs and PV readiness through parameter optimization and performance trending.

Develop and Sustain Process Knowledge
  • Identify process knowledge gaps that impact equipment and process capability.

  • Develop or support the capture of key process knowledge (examples include material and energy balances, kinetics, chemistry, process modeling, and equipment design basis).

  • Enable the development and maintenance of process knowledge. infrastructure such as key models, report history, lab models, and literature.

  • Utilize optimization resources and tools for process analysis and process improvement studies.

  • Review and track key process engineering metrics.

Provide Process & Equipment Support:

  • Identify systemic issues affecting production and reliable supply from CMs

  • Lead or participate in root cause analysis and countermeasure development and implementation for major safety, quality, or throughput incident investigations. Perform reviews of incident documentation for technical accuracy.

  • Review and approve documentation and engineering decisions.

Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement:
  • Support development and technical analysis for on-going continuous improvement activities.

  • Review and identify cost reduction opportunities, as well as process capacities and bottlenecks. Assist in prioritization of opportunities with respect to overall business objectives.

  • Work with the CMs to ensure the application of statistical thinking and methods to understand process variability and capability.

  • Perform and promote optimization of unit operation cycle time, loading, and yield performance.

  • Engage with late phase development and Engineering Technical Center resources to ensure staying contemporary with key engineering disciplines and developing portfolio platforms (e.g. continuous manufacturing operations).

Equipment Capability and Asset Management:
  • Create an appropriate methodology to ensure visibility of the ongoing state of qualification of key FUME systems at the CMs.

  • Review equipment and process system user requirements and qualification plans to ensure that the equipment and systems are appropriate for the intended purpose.

  • Act as customer representative for review of Contact Manufacturer (CM) requests for capital projects targeted at both short- and long-term needs.

Oversight of HSE and PSM:
  • Serve as the liaison for API EM and Global HSE on health, safety, and environmental (HSE) and process safety management (PSM) oversight at the relevant contract manufacturing sites.

  • Leverage internal Lilly experts in HSE and PSM to ensure appropriate risk reduction at CMs.

  • Participate in Lilly HSE and PSM audits of contract manufacturing sites as applicable.

  • Maintain key HSE and PSM metrics for review within API EM.

Adherence to Business, Quality, and Financial Systems:
  • Understand and follow all applicable Lilly policies and procedures with respect to interactions and oversight of API contract manufacturing sites.

Basic Requirements:
  • Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, or another engineering discipline with extensive chemical manufacturing experience.

  • 3+ years of work experience in a manufacturing/process engineering related role related to small molecules.

  • 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 in typical unit operations for Small Molecule API Manufacturing

  • Deep technical knowledge of API / Drug Substance manufacturing equipment and unit operations.

  • Demonstrated ability to apply fundamental chemical engineering principles to process understanding, problem solving, and process improvement.

  • Demonstrated ability to function in a team environment as a technical leader and as a member of teams.

  • Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize competing priorities and to appropriately communicate verbally and in writing to various audiences.

  • Develop and implement innovative approaches to problems

  • Process Hazard Analysis experience

  • Successful application of root cause analysis and systematic problem solving

  • Strong Computer skills in a variety of software packages ( e.g Batch Plus, JMP, Visio, Aspen, Dynochem, OSI PI, MS Office Suite).

  • Visualize an operation/process and reflect it in a model.

Other Information:
  • This role is located onsite in Indianapolis, IN with the ability to work from home up to 4 days per month. Relocation assistance will be provided if applicable.

  • This role is not approved for 100% remote work

  • Travel may routinely be required to support process start-ups, troubleshooting, and commercial manufacturing. This travel is typically in the range of 15% to 25% annually, depending on the needs of the process(s).

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 (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

$66,000 - $171,600

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


What Eli Lilly and Company employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Eli Lilly logo

About Eli Lilly

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Eli Lilly, based in Indianapolis, IN, US, is one of the pioneers in the pharmaceutical industry with a rich history dating back to 1876. This global pharmaceutical company focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing and selling pharmaceutical products in approximately 120 countries. The company's product categories include endocrinology, oncology, cardiovascular, neuroscience, and immunology. Having invested over $9 billion in research and development in the past decade, Eli Lilly is also committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs. As a recipient of several awards and recognitions, Eli Lilly is known for its focus on life-saving research and drug development. Their mission is to make medicines that help people live longer, healthier, and more active lives.

Industry

Pharmaceutical product wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Indianapolis, IN, US

Year founded

1876