Principal Scientist - Sensors & Diagnostics

Vector Recruitment Ltd; Falkirk; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Vector Recruitment Ltd is seeking a Principal Scientist to lead advanced electrochemical biosensor and diagnostic assay development in Scotland (Glasgow/Edinburgh corridor). The role remains hands-on, driving science, sensor architecture and data interpretation while mentoring other scientists.

You will shape technical direction, tackle difficult problems and ensure manufacturability and real-world impact of the technology, without simply managing others.

Qualifications

• Experience in biomedical diagnostics and translational R&D.
• Experience in venture-backed technology or commercial R&D organizations.
• Strong hands-on experimental design and data interpretation.
• Capability to lead science without a formal managerial role.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of next-generation electrochemical biosensors and diagnostic assays.
• Remain deeply involved in the science, experimental design and data interpretation.
• Shape technical direction and mentor other scientists.
• Balance scientific rigor with commercial viability to deliver field-ready sensors.

Skills

Electrochemistry

Sensor design

Diagnostics

Mentoring

Job description

Principal Scientist – Sensors & Diagnostics – Scotland - Glasgow / Edinburgh Corridor

Most biosensor projects don't fail because of the assay. They fail because nobody fully understands the sensor.

If you've built electrochemical biosensors in industry, you'll know that generating a signal is only part of the challenge. The difficult part is creating a sensor that remains sensitive, stable, manufacturable and commercially viable once it leaves the lab.

We're looking for a Principal Scientist to lead the development of next-generation electrochemical biosensors and diagnostic assays whilst remaining deeply involved in the science itself.

This is not a management role disguised as a scientific role.

It's for somebody who wants to lead the science, shape technical direction, mentor other scientists and solve difficult problems, whilst still remaining closely connected to experimental design, data interpretation and sensor development.

Why This Principal Scientist Role Is Interesting

Most senior scientists eventually get pushed in one of two directions.

They either:

• Stay hands-on and become increasingly specialised.
• Move into leadership and slowly drift away from the science.

This role offers the opportunity to do both.

You'll lead a highly capable team developing advanced electrochemical biosensors whilst remaining deeply involved in the scientific and technical challenges that determine whether a sensor platform ultimately succeeds or fails.

The work sits at the intersection of:

• Electrochemistry

The Problems You'll Be Solving

You'll be helping drive development across areas including:

• Diagnostic assay development
• Sensor architecture and design
• Electrochemical signal generation
• Signal acquisition and optimisation
• Sensor integration
• Wet-to-dry assay translation
• Sensor manufacturability and scalability
• Performance verification and optimisation

You'll be working with scientists, engineers and commercial teams to turn robust scientific concepts into commercially viable diagnostic products.

We'd like to speak to Scientists who have experience In

• Biomedical diagnostics
• Translational R&D

Experience gained within:

• Venture-backed technology businesses
• Commercial R&D organisations would all be highly relevant.

The sort of person who will thrive here

You're probably somebody who:

• Enjoys understanding how sensors actually work
• Challenges assumptions rather than accepting them
• Enjoys mentoring and developing others
• Can balance scientific rigour with commercial reality
• Still gets excited by experimental results
• Wants to build technology that has real-world impact

You may currently be a:

• Principal Scientist
• Lead Scientist
• Senior Scientist
• Principal Development Scientist
• Sensor Scientist
• Electrochemist

Or perhaps you're already doing much of the role but without the title.

The Important Bit

We're not looking for somebody to manage science.

We're looking for somebody to lead it.

Vacancy Location: Scotland

For more about this opportunity please contact Adam Mayne ([e-mail])