Lead Laboratory Systems Specialist

Lonza; Slough; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Lonza is seeking a Lead Laboratory Systems Specialist to lead the development of lab/digital infrastructure within R&D labs in Slough. This pivotal role involves designing secure data integration systems, managing lab instrument connectivity, and collaborating with various teams to enhance operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical expertise, particularly in lab informatics technologies, and a relevant educational background.

Benefits

Visa and Relocation support

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Experience in IT/OT integration or lab informatics/digitalisation.
• Ability to integrate lab instruments with ELNs, LIMS, or other data systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain secure IT/OT interfaces.
• Collaborate with IT and scientific teams for data transfer needs.
• Manage instrument network connectivity and data pipelines.

Skills

Data integration technologies

Automation systems

Industrial IT/OT architectures

Proficiency in Python

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science

Bioinformatics or a related field

Tools

SQL

OPC UA

REST/SOAP APIs

Job description

Title: Lead Laboratory Systems Specialist

Location: Slough

Visa and Relocation support is offered with this role.

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.

The role:

The role of a Lead Laboratory Systems Specialist is to lead the development and implementation of robust Lab/digital infrastructure within our R&D laboratories. This is pivotal in enabling efficient, automated data exchange between laboratory instruments and enterprise informatics systems such as Electronic Lab notebooks (ELN)s, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and other relevant data setups.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of lab environments, automation systems and industrial IT/OT architectures, bridging the gap between scientific users, automation engineers, and IT teams.

Be willing to travel within the UK and Europe, accounting for approximately 10% of working time!

Key responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and maintain secure, scalable IT/OT interfaces between lab instruments (e.g., bioreactors, plate readers, liquid handlers) and informatics systems (ELN, LIMS, SDMS, etc.)

• Collaborate with IT, Data science and scientific teams in R&D to identify integration needs and define architecture for real-time or scheduled automated data transfer.

• Develop or configure middleware, APIs, and custom connectors—either in- house or in collaboration with external vendors—to enable automated data capture, contextualization, and storage.

• Manage instrument network connectivity (e.g., OPC-UA, MQTT, REST APIs, TCP/IP) and data pipelines from edge devices to cloud/on-premise environments.

• Support system validation efforts (e.g., CSV, 21 CFR Part 11 compliance) in partnership with QA and IT Compliance teams, while also providing technical troubleshooting and support for instrument connectivity and data integration issues.

• Contribute to long-term digital strategy for lab automation, analytics, and operational efficiency. Support scale-up and tech transfer of automated workflows to operational areas or QC environments outside of R&D when needed.

• Participate in required Lonza training programs.

Key requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Bioinformatics, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• Experience in a similar IT/OT integration or lab informatics/digitalisation role within biotech, pharma, or CDMO environment.

• Proven hands-on experience integrating lab instruments with ELNs, LIMS, Scientific Data Management System (SDMS), or other data systems.

• Proficiency with data integration technologies and protocols: OPC UA, MQTT, REST/SOAP APIs, SQL, Python, etc.

• Familiarity with lab automation platforms (e.g., Tecan, Hamilton, Agilent, Beckman, Sartorius) and related data workflows.

• A good understanding of GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, data integrity principles, and validated environments is a plus.

Every day, Lonza’s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.

People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world. The satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.