Senior Scientist

Hlx Life Sciences; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity participation

Health coverage

Life insurance

Pension

Generous PTO and parental policy

London lab environment

Job summary

HLX Life Sciences seeks a Senior Scientist to own the development, optimisation, and implementation of DNA/RNA extraction and sequencing workflows. This hands-on role bridges R&D innovation and production-scale delivery, ensuring new methods are scientifically robust and scalable.

Responsibilities include prototyping, testing, scaling workflows, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and horizon-scanning for emerging methodologies to enhance sequencing capabilities and biodiversity database

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of molecular biology or sequencing R&D experience.
• Hands-on DNA/RNA extraction, library prep and sequencing.
• Experience in high-throughput lab environments.

Responsibilities

• Own development, optimisation and implementation of DNA/RNA extraction workflows.
• Develop sequencing workflows for Illumina and Nanopore platforms.
• Validate methods and transfer into production scale.
• Analyse experiments and present results to internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate with data science, global sample collection and R&D sites.
• Horizon-scan for new methodologies to boost sequencing and database growth.
• Provide technical mentorship within the team.

Skills

DNA/RNA extraction

Sequencing workflow development

Cross-functional collaboration

Data interpretation & presentation

Molecular biology troubleshooting

Education

MSc/PhD in Molecular Biology or related

Tools

Illumina sequencing

Nanopore sequencing

Automation experience

Job description

Our client is seeking a Senior Scientist to own the development, optimisation, and implementation of DNA/RNA extraction and sequencing workflows. This hands‑on role bridges R&D innovation and production‑scale delivery, ensuring new methods are scientifically robust and scalable.

• Directly contribute to expanding the company's biodiversity database, prototyping, testing, and scaling workflows that drive real‑world impact.
• Develop and optimise DNA/RNA extraction and sequencing workflows (Illumina and Nanopore).
• Implement new sequencing technologies and chemistries; validate methods and transfer to production.
• Analyse experiments and present results internally.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including data science, global sample collection, and other R&D sites.
• Horizon‑scan for emerging methodologies to enhance sequencing and database growth initiatives.
• Provide technical expertise and mentorship within the team.

• 5-10 years' experience in molecular biology or sequencing-focused R&D, ideally with non‑model organisms.
• Hands‑on expertise in DNA/RNA extraction, library preparation, and sequencing (Illumina and Nanopore).
• Experience in high‑throughput laboratory environments.
• Strong method development, optimisation, and troubleshooting skills.
• Comfortable working in CL2 laboratories with genetically modified organisms.
• Collaborative, able to communicate effectively across multi‑disciplinary teams.

Desirable Skills

• Familiarity with automation and high‑throughput workflows.
• Experience with single‑cell sequencing or targeted enrichment strategies.
• Understanding of sequencing data QC and collaboration with bioinformatics teams.

Educational Background & Personal Attributes

• MSc/PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Genomics, or related field.
• Hands‑on scientist who enjoys solving challenging technical problems.
• Curious, pragmatic, and capable of balancing scientific rigour with rapid iteration.
• Motivated by impact, innovation, and building something from the ground up.

• Competitive salary (dependent on experience).
• Equity participation opportunity.
• Comprehensive health coverage, life insurance, pension, generous PTO, and parental policy.
• Collaborative, dynamic, and supportive lab environment in London.