Molecular Characterisation Scientist, Biologics

About This Opportunity

We are representing a confidential biotechnology client in London who is building next-generation molecular characterisation capabilities for biologics. This is a hands-on bench scientist role where you'll develop and validate the biophysical and analytical assay cascade that sits between protein production and functional testing.

You'll work at the intersection of traditional protein science and advanced automation, designing quality control, binding, stability, and developability assays from first principles. Your protocols will be built for eventual autonomous execution, but you'll start by running everything manually, establishing reproducibility thresholds, and authoring the SOPs that guide the transition to instrumented platforms.

We are hiring across three levels: Lab Technician, Scientist, and Principal Scientist. All roles are hands-on and lab-based in London.

Responsibilities

All Levels:

• Execute biophysical and analytical characterisation assays for protein samples in manual, semi-automated, and instrumented formats
• Work alongside automation and software engineering colleagues to translate scientific protocols into automated workflows
• Maintain rigorous data capture practices using LIMS, ELN, or similar infrastructure
• Contribute to building reproducibility and quality thresholds into every assay

Lab Technician:

• Follow established SOPs precisely for sample preparation, reagent handling, and routine assay execution
• Prepare buffers, plates, and consumables; maintain lab equipment
• Flag deviations and communicate clearly when protocols need troubleshooting

Scientist:

• Develop and validate QC assays (purity, concentration, oligomeric state), binding assays (SPR or BLI), and stability assays (nanoDSF, DLS)
• Run validation experiments, analyse kinetics and affinity data, and distinguish instrument artifacts from real biological signals
• Grow into protocol authorship and SOP ownership over your first year
• Contribute to scaling workflows from dozens to hundreds of samples per week

Principal Scientist:

• Own end-to-end development of assay modules: scoping, manual protocol design, validation to acceptance criteria, SOP authoring, and handoff to automation
• Design developability packages (HIC, heparin binding, AC-SINS, and similar) with automation compatibility as a primary constraint
• Co-design protocols with engineering teams, making the technical judgement calls about what can be automated and what stays manual
• Supervise junior scientists and lab technicians; contribute to hiring and training
• Engage with commercial partners and customers as the assay menu opens to external use

What We're Looking For

All Levels:

• Hands-on experience with biophysical or analytical instrumentation for protein characterisation
• Comfortable working in high-throughput formats and adapting to evolving protocols
• Track record of collaborating with non-scientist colleagues (automation, software, computational teams)
• Pragmatic about being hands-on during early-stage, fast-paced development phases

Lab Technician:

• Relevant hands-on lab experience (apprenticeships, technician roles, or equivalent)
• Solid wet-lab fundamentals: accurate pipetting, buffer prep, sample handling, plate setup
• Exposure to plate readers, HPLC, nanoDSF, DLS, SPR/BLI, or plate-based liquid handlers is helpful but not required
• Methodical, safety-conscious, and comfortable in an early-stage environment where SOPs are still being written

Scientist:

• PhD in protein biophysics, analytical characterisation, or biologics developability with 2+ years hands-on experience; or MSc with 5+ years in the same area
• Independent competence on at least one biophysical binding platform (SPR or BLI) plus one or more orthogonal assays (nanoDSF/DSF, DLS, analytical SEC, HIC, AC-SINS, cIEF, or PAIA)
• Some exposure to 96- or 384-well plate formats at high throughput
• Confident with kinetics fitting, data interpretation, and structured experimental data capture
• Proficiency with LIMS, ELN, or similar systems
• Ready to grow into protocol authorship and SOP ownership

Principal Scientist:

• PhD in protein biochemistry, biophysics, or biologics developability with 5+ years hands-on experience (at least 2 in industry); or MSc with 8+ years bench experience (at least 2 in industry)
• Extensive independent experience across at least three core areas: SPR/BLI kinetics, epitope binning, ELISA-based assays, thermal/colloidal stability (nanoDSF, DLS, SLS, analytical SEC), developability (HIC, heparin LC, AC-SINS, forced degradation)
• Experience in two or more areas at high throughput (96/384-well formats), including workflow optimisation, SOP development, and validation
• Method development and validation: defining acceptance criteria, references, controls that others have executed successfully
• SOP authorship and experience supervising at least one junior scientist or technician

Nice to Have (All Levels):

• Experience moving assays from manual workflows onto automation platforms or handing off protocols to automated systems
• Experience with tiered developability or characterisation cascades
• Collaboration with computational or AI/ML colleagues on closed-loop assay programmes
• Background at an AI-native biotech or foundation-model company

How We Work With You

Our talent team at Get A Job.ai has partnered with this client to identify exceptional molecular characterisation scientists for their London lab. Here's how the process works:

• Apply directly through the Get A Job.ai platform with your CV and a brief note about your hands-on experience with biologics characterisation
• A recruiter from our team will conduct an initial screen to discuss your background, the role requirements, and logistics
• If there's a strong mutual fit, we'll submit your profile to our client for consideration
• The client's interview process includes a short screening conversation, a behavioural and cultural-fit discussion, a technical assessment or work sample with the team, and references
• Please do not contact the client directly—all communication and scheduling will flow through Get A Job.ai to ensure a smooth, professional process

This is an in-person, lab-based role in London (Triton Street). The manual development phase is hands-on with a heavy early cadence that eases as protocols move onto instrumentation. The package includes 30 days annual leave plus public holidays, a pension with 10% employer contribution, and comprehensive private health cover.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process and are competitive with the London biotechnology market for each level (Lab Technician, Scientist, Principal Scientist). Pay is structured through our client and will be confirmed based on experience and seniority.

Get A Job.ai is an equal opportunity recruiter. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and make recommendations to our clients based on merit, skills, and role fit.