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Laboratory Startup Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Sr. Principal Lab Scientist

Richmond, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This role will provide technical expertise for the laboratory startup activities including facility design, instrument procurement and qualification in support upstream and downstream operations as ...

Sr. Principal Lab Scientist

Richmond, VA · On-site

$102 - $171.60/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This role will provide technical expertise for the laboratory startup activities including facility design, instrument procurement and qualification in support upstream and downstream operations as ...

Sr. Principal Lab Scientist

Richmond, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This role will provide technical expertise for the laboratory startup activities including facility design, instrument procurement and qualification in support upstream and downstream operations as ...

Commissioning or startup experience. * Experience with Megger testing, torque verification, or electrical acceptance testing. * Experience on healthcare, mission-critical, data center, laboratory ...

MEP Superintendent

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$150K - $170K/yr

Coordinate inspections, commissioning, startup, and owner turnover. * Manage shutdowns, utility tie ... Experience on hospitals, healthcare, mission-critical, laboratory, pharmaceutical, airport, higher ...

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Laboratory Startup information

What is a laboratory startup?

A Laboratory Startup is a company or organization in its early stages that focuses on scientific research, innovation, and the development of new technologies or products within a laboratory setting. These startups are often founded by scientists or researchers and may work on anything from biotech and pharmaceuticals to chemical engineering or diagnostics. Laboratory Startups typically face unique challenges, such as securing funding, acquiring specialized equipment, hiring skilled personnel, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Their goal is often to bring a novel scientific discovery or product to market, either independently or through partnerships with larger companies.

What are some common challenges faced when setting up a new laboratory, and how can they be effectively addressed?

When starting up a new laboratory, professionals often encounter challenges such as ensuring regulatory compliance, sourcing the appropriate equipment, and establishing robust safety protocols. Coordinating with vendors, navigating procurement delays, and setting up laboratory information management systems can also be complex. To address these, it’s essential to develop a detailed project plan, involve key stakeholders early, and consult with experienced laboratory managers or consultants. Open communication with team members and regular progress reviews help keep the setup on track and ensure a smooth launch.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in laboratory startup roles, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Laboratory Startup role, you need expertise in laboratory operations, project management, and regulatory compliance, often supported by a degree in a scientific field and experience in lab environments. Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), facility setup procedures, and relevant safety certifications such as OSHA are typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for coordinating teams and navigating the challenges of launching a new lab. These competencies ensure that the laboratory is established efficiently, safely, and in compliance with industry standards, enabling successful research or diagnostic operations.

What is the difference between Laboratory Startup vs Laboratory Technician?

AspectLaboratory StartupLaboratory Technician
CredentialsOften requires a degree in science or engineering, sometimes with entrepreneurial experienceTypically requires an associate's or bachelor's degree in a laboratory science or related field
Work EnvironmentStartup environment, often in labs focused on innovation, research, or product developmentEstablished labs, research facilities, or clinical settings
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by new biotech, pharma, or research startupsCommon in hospitals, research institutes, and industrial labs

In summary, a Laboratory Startup involves launching new lab ventures with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, often requiring a mix of scientific and business skills. A Laboratory Technician typically works within established labs, performing routine testing and experiments based on existing protocols. While both roles require scientific knowledge, the startup role emphasizes building new operations, whereas the technician role focuses on supporting ongoing research or production.

What are popular job titles related to Laboratory Startup jobs in Virginia?

For Laboratory Startup jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Laboratory Startup jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Laboratory Startup job openings:

Infographic showing various Laboratory Startup job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 97% In-person, and 3% Remote job distribution.

Sr. Principal Lab Scientist

Eli Lilly and Company

Richmond, VA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 hours 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.


Sr. Principal Lab Scientist - Technical Services/Manufacturing Sciences (TS/MS) Laboratory

As our biologics pipeline continues to expand, Eli Lilly & Company has invested in a state-of-the-art new facility in Richmond, VA. To support this exciting new GMP manufacturing facility and ensure a safe and successful start-up, we are seeking talented individuals to contribute to establishing Lilly Richmond as a reliable supplier of our innovative medicines and furthering our goal of making a difference to people's lives.

The TS/MS Senior Principal Scientist will provide direct technical support for the design, startup and execution of the TS/MS laboratory. This role will provide technical expertise for the laboratory startup activities including facility design, instrument procurement and qualification in support upstream and downstream operations as well as analytical instrumentation. This role will serve as a technical leader and mentor to laboratory scientists and will be integral in defining the laboratory's technical agenda. The successful applicant will have a deep technical expertise in their areas of responsibility and demonstrate strong data-driven problem-solving capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

  • Have an in-depth knowledge of biological manufacturing, laboratory-scale models and analytical methods, supporting both upstream and downstream processing.
  • Work with the network and development organizations to ensure a well-understood, robust and fit-for-purpose laboratory models are developed and transferred.
  • Support the design and start-up of the laboratory including equipment configuration and purchase, development of the laboratory data management strategy, establishment of laboratory protocols.
  • Support a laboratory startup plan in alignment with the health, safety and environmental team to ensure safe startup and operation.
  • Experience in laboratory scale equipment operation and trouble shooting.
  • Supporting the development and mentorship of other laboratory scientists in alignment with area management
  • Leading laboratory investigations in support of production operations.
  • Create and review documents including laboratory SOPs, material specifications, protocols, and work instructions
  • Establish partnerships to enable cross functional work with the quality control laboratory and other Lilly sites to ensure facility startup objectives are met.
  • Contribute to the authorship and review of regulatory submissions and responses to regulatory agencies

Educational Requirements:

  • BS degree based in biology, chemistry, biochemistry or similar discipline.
  • Experience (>5 yrs) working in pharmaceutical laboratory and GMP manufacturing environments, and/or managing an academic lab.
  • 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:

  • MS or PhD degree based in biology, chemistry, biochemistry or similar discipline.
  • Ability to provide technical leadership in a laboratory setting with experience in upstream and downstream processing, and analytical testing.
  • Demonstrated technical capability with high productivity
  • Self-starter with high initiative and data-driven approach to problem-solving
  • Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills
  • Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Demonstrated adaptability and flexibility to working in different environments, teams etc.
  • Demonstrated ability to participate in and facilitate decision-making

Work Environment:

  • Onsite
  • This is an 8-hour day role. As a manufacturing support function, the need for occasional evening or weekend support can arise.

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

$102,000 - $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.

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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