Principal Scientist applicants have rated the interview process at Eli Lilly and Company with 3 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 100% positive. To compare, the company-average is 67.2% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Principal Scientist roles take an average of 41 days to get hired, when considering 3 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at Eli Lilly and Company overall takes an average of 30 days.
Common stages of the interview process at Eli Lilly and Company as a Principal Scientist according to 3 Glassdoor interviews include:
Phone interview: 23%
Background check: 23%
Drug test: 15%
One on one interview: 15%
Other: 8%
Skills test: 8%
Group panel interview: 8%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Eli Lilly and Company (Lebanon, IN) in Mar 2024
Interview
Interview started with a 30 min HR screen, then 1 hour conversations with the MSAT hiring manager and engineering AD about a week later. It was all online. All questions from the hiring manager were behavioral and STAR format. The only technical questions came from engineering and were equipment related.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
The asked me to identify about half a dozen symbols on a P&ID and what each one of them does.
I applied online. I interviewed at Eli Lilly and Company (Indianapolis, IN) in Oct 2025
Interview
The interview process at Eli Lilly typically starts with a recruiter screening to confirm role fit, experience, and logistics. This is followed by a hiring manager interview focused on technical depth, problem-solving, and leadership judgment rather than basic theory. Candidates then go through a panel or onsite interview that usually includes a technical presentation and multiple one-on-one discussions with cross-functional stakeholders, emphasizing real project impact, collaboration, and decision-making. The final stage assesses culture and values fit, after which feedback is consolidated, and an offer is made.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Can you describe a challenging development problem you led, how you decided on the analytical strategy, and how your data influenced the final project decision.
I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Eli Lilly and Company (Concord, NC) in Jan 2024
Interview
Zoom based until the finally interview. Hard to get an accurate representation of the culture prior to onsite interview. Interviews are scheduled last minute or cancelled with short notice. The HR recruiter is not knowledgeable about the company yet.