Senior Genetic Engineer

Singular: Building Brilliant Biotechs; Manchester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Singular: Building Brilliant Biotechs is seeking a hands-on Plant Scientist in Manchester to drive innovative solutions in crop technology. As part of a dynamic team, you will design and execute experiments that leverage your molecular biology expertise to develop cytoplasmic traits across crop species.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in plant science with strong lab skills and a passion for agricultural biotechnology. This full-time, on-site role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to global food security efforts.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience in plant science or a related field.
• Strong hands-on experience in plant molecular biology experiments.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute plant molecular biology experiments.
• Develop and optimise gene editing and transformation approaches.
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary R&D team.

Skills

Hands-on experience in plant molecular biology

Gene editing

Collaboration in multidisciplinary teams

Education

PhD in plant science or related field

Job description

You are a hands-on plant scientist with strong molecular biology expertise. You enjoy working at the bench, solving complex biological problems, and translating fundamental science into real-world applications.

You want to work in a fast-paced, ambitious biotech where your work directly contributes to solving global challenges like food security and sustainable agriculture.

We are partnering with an exciting University of Manchester spinout developing a completely new frontier in crop technology. Their focus is on engineering chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes to introduce high-impact traits into major crop species. This approach unlocks advantages not possible through traditional nuclear genome engineering, including higher expression, stability, and non-Mendelian inheritance.

This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage and directly contribute to building a new category of agricultural biotechnology. You will work closely with the founding team and R&D colleagues to develop and deliver cytoplasmic traits across multiple crop species.

THE ROLE

As a Plant Scientist, you will play a key role in designing, executing, and delivering experimental work to enable cytoplasmic trait development.

Key responsibilities

• Design and execute plant molecular biology experiments
• Develop and optimise gene editing and transformation approaches in plant systems
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary R&D team
• Contribute ideas and scientific insight in a dynamic, early-stage environment

ABOUT YOU

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in plant science or a related field
• Strong hands-on experience in plant molecular biology

Nice to have

• Experience with gene editing or plant genetic engineering
• Experience working with crop species (e.g. wheat, maize, tomato, potato)

LOGISTICS

• Full-time, on-site role, Manchester
• Exciting early-stage biotech environment

If you are excited by the opportunity to help build a new technological paradigm in crop science, apply here or reach out to [e-mail]