Technical Specialist - Systems Biology + Biotech Integration

ARIA; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

A progressive R&D funding agency in London is seeking a Technical Specialist to integrate diverse scientific disciplines. The role involves supporting high-impact research in biotechnology and helping teams to overcome technical challenges effectively. Ideal candidates have hands-on experience in experimental biology and a strong analytical background. This position offers a salary range of £70,000 - £105,000 and supports a hybrid working model.

Benefits

27 days annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days

Hybrid working arrangements

Support for learning and development opportunities

Enhanced family leave arrangements

Pension scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Track record of hands-on experimental work including design and troubleshooting.
• Experience in biotech R&D and ability to interpret technical uncertainty.
• Strong working knowledge of the UK R&D ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Support the Programme Director in designing a high-impact research portfolio.
• Evaluate proposals for technical depth and originality.
• Engage deeply with lab teams to troubleshoot experiments and identify scaling opportunities.

Skills

Broad fluency across experimental and computational life sciences

Analytical and conceptual ability

Communication skills

Adaptability in uncertain environments

Education

PhD or deeper technical experience in a quantitative life-science, engineering, or physical-science discipline

Tools

Microfluidics

Optics

Computation

Job description

Technical Specialist - Systems Biology + Biotech Integration

Application Deadline: 23 November 2025

Department: Programmes

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: London

Reporting To: Nathan Wolfe

Compensation: £70,000 - £105,000 / year

Salary Levels: c.£70,000, c.£90,000, c.£105,000 (eventual offers will be based on benchmarked experience levels in combination with our selection criteria)

Location: Kings X, London; Tues - Thurs (3 days) at HQ, Monday + Friday, anywhere

Employment Type: Full-time

Contract: 3 years fixed-term (with the possibility for extension)

Closing Date: 23.11.25

Description

About ARIA

ARIA is a new kind of R&D funding agency. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible. From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world‑class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.

We are growing our team to develop bold new approaches that can scale – from programmes to systems, processes and everything in between. If that sounds fun, come and build ARIA with us.

Learn more about how we work here.

Role Summary

You’ll work alongside Programme Director Nathan Wolfe and his consultant team on Precision Mitochondria, an effort to make the mitochondrial genome programmable.

We’re looking for an adaptive, cross‑disciplinary scientist‑engineer who thrives in uncertain terrain—someone who can help shape experiments, spot hidden connections, and evaluate novel approaches from biology, physics, materials science, and computation.

Rather than a domain specialist, you’ll be a technical integrator; able to bridge disciplines, design experiments with diverse creator teams, and recognise when a new technology from an unrelated field could solve a biological bottleneck.

Meet Nathan Wolfe

Nathan Wolfe is a member of ARIA’s second cohort of Programme Directors. He is a biologist and scientific entrepreneur known for launching high‑risk, high‑impact initiatives at the intersection of life sciences, technology, and global health. He advises and invests in early‑stage technology companies and has worked with governments and philanthropic foundations on transformative science.

Nathan is leading an ARIA programme to make the mitochondrial genome programmable—developing a toolkit for reading, writing, and regulating mitochondrial DNA in vivo.

Find out more about what they’re working on here.

“We’re looking for a technical builder—someone who thrives on connecting ideas across disciplines and turning them into experiments that reveal what’s possible. If you’re motivated by discovery, ambiguity, and impact, you’ll fit right in.”

Nathan Wolfe, Programme Director

What you’ll do

The scope of the role will evolve as ARIA continues to grow, but will broadly involve the following:

Programme Integration & Technical Advisory

• Support the Programme Director in designing and delivering a high‑risk, high‑impact research portfolio across biotechnology, synthetic biology, nanotech, and metrology.
• Evaluate proposals and programme milestones for technical depth and originality, providing critical insight on feasibility, experimental design, and opportunities for cross‑pollination.
• Engage deeply with lab teams — helping troubleshoot experiments, translate engineering concepts across fields, and identify when a technology is ready to scale or pivot.
• Develop or refine simple experimental models, assays, or validation strategies that enable comparability and speed learning across projects.
• Identify, scout, and help recruit new creators or technical partners whose tools could transform the programme.
• Plan, lead, and contribute to discussions in project meetings, workshops, and formal reviews, bringing depth, challenge, and direction to every interaction.
• Provide evidence‑based insight to the Programme Director and the ARIA team to support high‑quality decisions and sharpen the programme’s strategic direction.
• Confidently communicate complex scientific ideas surrounding the programme to stakeholders, from government and funders to key players across the ecosystem.

Connecting the Programme to the Ecosystem

• Represent the programme, often on behalf of the Programme Director, at events, workshops and talks.
• Build trusted relationships with world‑class researchers, labs, and founders working at the forefront of the programme’s focus area.
• Work closely with ARIA’s Activation Partners to ensure Creator teams can access the right tools, platforms, and networks to accelerate translation and achieve impact beyond ARIA’s direct reach.

Define and Cultivate ARIA’s Technical Culture

• Collaborate across ARIA on funding models, budgets, tooling, and operational mechanisms to support effective, flexible funding and programme delivery.
• Contribute as a member of ARIA’s team of Technical Specialists (‘T‑Specs’), sharing best practices and learnings between programmes to strengthen ARIA’s portfolio of work.
• Help build and sustain ARIA’s scientific and operational culture.

Who you are

Essential Criteria

• With a broad fluency across experimental and computational life sciences, you are comfortable switching between cell biology, materials, physics, and systems engineering.
• You have a track record of hands‑on experimental work, ideally including design, troubleshooting, or building of instruments, assays, or synthetic systems.
• You have experience in biotech R&D—academic or industrial—and are able to interpret technical uncertainty and judge feasibility from first principles.
• You possess a strong analytical and conceptual ability to evaluate technologies that may originate outside of traditional biology (e.g., microfluidics, optics, computation, nanomaterials).
• An excellent communicator, you are capable of translating between scientific, engineering, and strategic perspectives.
• You are highly adaptable, and thrive in ambiguity; comfortable shaping programmes where plans evolve rapidly.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with synthetic biology, nucleic‑acid delivery, measurement or automation platforms, or related enabling technologies.
• Familiarity with venture‑backed biotech or translational research environments.
• You have successfully performed technical assignments that require unconventional or novel approaches.
• You are skilled in identifying technical bottlenecks, risk analysis and resolution, tracking technical milestones, and reporting on complex technical projects.
• You have a strong working knowledge of the UK R&D ecosystem.

Qualifications

You have a Scientific qualification, with a preference for PhD or other deeper technical experience, in a quantitative life‑science, engineering, or physical‑science discipline.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave provision, with the option to buy/sell additional days
• Hybrid working arrangements; 60% in office / 40% at home
• Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave arrangements
• A free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme
• 2 days of paid volunteer days
• 5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
• Cycle to Work scheme
• An excellent office location in Kings X, London

Not sure you meet 100% of our criteria? Don’t worry. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We want to attract the broadest array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to this, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.

Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interests and what you hope to bring to this role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please notify us and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Disclosing any requests are intended to provide ARIA with the best opportunity to support candidates and will have no negative impact on your recruitment process.

Please note; you will be required, as and when necessary, to travel to different locations around the UK and internationally to support projects, depending on the programme you are designated to.

ARIA adopts a highly considered approach to ethical and social responsibility. You can read our policy here. Our research and development activity will abide by the 3Rs principle. You can read about those here.