Automation Scientist

Arctoris; Oxford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and well-being support

Minimum 28 days annual leave

Highly competitive reward package

Job summary

A leading drug discovery services company in Oxford seeks an Automation Scientist to manage and deliver research projects involving in vitro experiments and assays. Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in cell biology or related fields and have substantial experience in drug discovery and automated laboratory techniques. This role promotes a collaborative culture with extensive development opportunities and a generous benefits package including flexible working arrangements.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of postdoctoral or industrial drug discovery experience.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and complex cell models.
• Strong understanding of assay statistics.

Responsibilities

• Design and manage internal and client research projects.
• Perform in vitro experiments and assays.
• Develop and optimise cell‑based assays using automation.

Skills

Assay development expertise

Experience handling large datasets

Practical experience with gene‑engineering technologies

Experience with robotic liquid handlers

Basic programming skills (Python or C#)

Education

Ph.D. in cell biology or related field

Tools

Hamilton‑Vantage with Instinct V software

Flow cytometry

High‑throughput screening (HTS)

Job description

Automation Scientist

Arctoris is expanding and seeking a skilled Cell Biologist, preferably with experience working in automated laboratory environments. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in both client‑focused projects and internal discovery and automation initiatives.

Main Responsibilities

• Design, plan, manage and deliver internal and client research projects.
• Perform in vitro experiments and assays to an exceptional standard.
• Maintain mammalian cell cultures across a variety of scientific fields and disease settings (e.g., cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular).
• Develop and optimise cell‑based assays using the automation platform.
• Analyse, interpret and present data (written reports and presentations) of experiment results.
• Keep thorough documentation of all work performed.
• Follow standard operating procedures, and establish new SOPs where required.
• Provide feasibility assessments of projects to support the sales team.
• Act as a subject‑matter expert and communicate effectively with clients in scientific meetings.
• Stay up to date with relevant scientific and technical developments.
• Work well within a team to optimise processes, teach others and learn.
• Contribute ideas to technology development strategies and maintain a culture of continual improvement.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education to Ph.D. level in cell biology or related fields; or equivalent experience in scientific R&D.
• 2+ years of post‑doctoral or industrial drug discovery experience.
• Experience of independent, self‑directed work.
• Proven ability to disseminate research results (reports, presentations, peer‑reviewed publications).
• Assay development expertise for target ID/validation and/or drug screening, with a strong understanding of assay statistics (e.g., Robust Z’, %CV).
• Broad understanding of the drug discovery process.
• Experience handling large datasets, including data QC and analysis.
• Experience working in an industrial setting.
• Broad‑based experience in cell biology, ideally including mammalian cell culture and complex cell models (e.g., 3D cell models, iPSC or other primary cell systems, or co‑cultures) and optimisation of culturing conditions.
• Implementation, performance, and troubleshooting of a broad range of cell‑based assays (flow cytometry, imaging microscopy, plate‑based assays such as NanoBRET, HiBiT, ELISA, Luciferase, HTRF, AlphaLISA).
• Practical experience with one or more gene‑engineering and gene‑modulation technologies (e.g., CRISPR or RNAi‑mediated gene modulation) for cell line engineering or genetic perturbation studies.
• Expertise in other common cellular and molecular techniques (qRT‑PCR, transfection, SDS‑PAGE, Western blotting).

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Expertise in neurodegenerative diseases, immunology, oncology or immuno‑oncology, with advanced techniques including primary cell cultures and 3D cell models.
• Proficiency in advanced cellular and molecular biology techniques (e.g., multiparameter flow cytometry, high‑throughput/high‑content imaging and the associated analysis).
• Experience and knowledge of research processes and activities complying with the Human Tissue Act.
• Experience with robotic liquid handlers and programming/troubleshooting (Hamilton‑Vantage with Instinct V software).
• Experience executing assays on an automated platform and programming robotic arms for automation platform integration.
• Experience automating complex scientific processes (ideally cell‑based assays), including troubleshooting and method validation.
• Basic programming skills, ideally in Python or C#.
• Experience setting up and/or running high‑throughput screening (HTS) assays.

Culture

• Dedicated, passionate, and agile team constantly innovating and celebrating successes.
• Flexible and collaborative culture with extensive development and progression opportunities.
• Inclusion, diversity and belonging are core to our success.
• Highly competitive reward package, pension, life insurance, long‑term absence insurance and other benefits.
• Generous sick pay scheme and enhanced family‑friendly policies.
• Health and well‑being support.
• Minimum 28 days annual leave, with generous flexible and remote working opportunities.
• Regular team events, fresh fruit and snacks, and many opportunities to socialize and build relationships.

Arctoris is a technology‑enabled drug discovery services company headquartered in Oxford. We combine automated wet‑lab experimentation, proprietary analytical pipelines, and deep scientific expertise to accelerate the design and optimisation of new therapeutics. Our Ulysses® automation platform and data infrastructure generate reproducible, high‑quality datasets at scale, forming the foundation for AI‑driven discovery capabilities across oncology, immunology, and neurodegeneration. Join Arctoris to contribute to a multidisciplinary environment where data architecture, analytical tooling, and computational pipelines directly advance the creation of life‑changing medicines.