Senior Automation Scientist

Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced holiday pay

Pension

Life Assurance

Income Protection

Private Medical Insurance

Hospital Cash Plan

Therapy Services

Perk Box

Electric Car Scheme

Job summary

Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford seeks a Senior Automation Laboratory Scientist to help build autonomous labs that integrate biology, robotics and ML. You will drive wet-lab automation, translate scientific aims into robust protocols, and collaborate with engineers and researchers across disciplines.

The role requires hands-on bench work, independent troubleshooting, and a focus on quality and biosafety in a fast-evolving lab environment.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent industry experience required.
• Strong hands-on wet-lab experience and bench-work.
• Proven ability to design, execute and troubleshoot workflows.

Responsibilities

• Execute, optimise and design wet-lab workflows.
• Translate objectives into reproducible automation protocols.
• Read literature and troubleshoot bench protocols.
• Operate and support automation platforms including liquid handlers.
• Lead the design and deployment of a deployable automation platform.
• Collaborate with automation engineers, AI researchers and teams.
• Maintain documentation, quality control and biosafety standards.

Skills

Wet-lab work

Independent troubleshooting

Attention to detail

Scientific curiosity

Hands-on bench work

Education

PhD in STEM or equivalent

Tools

Hamilton automation system

OpenTrons liquid handler

Python (basic)

Job description

Job Summary

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is building the next generation of AI-driven, autonomous laboratories where experimental science, robotics, and machine learning integrate to design, execute, and optimise experiments dynamically. A critical purpose of our Autonomous Labs (AutoLabs) programme is to generate self driving workflows, particularly in workflows and deployment environments without automation scientists readily available.

Job Summary

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is building the next generation of AI-driven, autonomous laboratories where experimental science, robotics, and machine learning integrate to design, execute, and optimise experiments dynamically. A critical purpose of our Autonomous Labs (AutoLabs) programme is to generate self driving workflows, particularly in workflows and deployment environments without automation scientists readily available.

We are seeking a highly capable, hands-on Senior Automation Laboratory Scientist to play a central role in this transformation.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Execute, optimise and design wet-lab workflows
• Translate scientific objectives into structured, reproducible, automation-ready protocols
• Read scientific literature and independently attempt, execute and troubleshoot protocols found in the literature in the wet lab
• Operate and support laboratory automation platforms, including liquid handling systems
• Lead the design, development, and deployment of a deployable automation platform, increasing robustness and reliability and enabling use by lab techs and scientists without a lab automation scientist in the loop
• Collaborate closely with automation engineers, AI researchers, and interdisciplinary scientific teams
• Maintain rigorous documentation, quality control, and biosafety compliance standards

Essential Knowledge, Skills, And Experience

• A PhD in a STEM discipline or equivalent industry experience
• Strong hands‑on experience from a wet‑lab environment, with a genuine desire to do hands‑on work at the bench
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute and troubleshoot laboratory workflows
• Experience translating experimental goals into structured, reproducible protocols
• High attention to detail and commitment to experimental quality
• Scientific curiosity that is open to any area of science (beyond just biology)
• A can‑do, build‑it‑yourself attitude and comfort working in a fast‑evolving, technology‑driven laboratory environment

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Experience (in rough order of desirability)

• Operating automated laboratory systems (e.g., liquid handlers; experience with Hamilton and OpenTrons is particularly useful)
• Strong familiarity and hands‑on experience with molecular biology workflows, particularly sequencing and antimicrobial resistance testing
• Familiarity with structured data capture
• Exposure to programming (e.g., Python) and machine learning concepts
• Team lead experience

You must be able to commute to Oxford 5 days a week for this role.

Benefits

We offer the following salary and benefits:

• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme
• --

Why work for EIT:

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!