Automation Scientist

Arctoris Ltd; Oxford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading drug discovery services company in Oxford seeks an experienced Cell Biologist to manage research projects and perform in vitro experiments. The ideal candidate will excel in automated lab environments and hold a Ph.D. in cell biology or a related field, with over 2 years of relevant industry experience. This role offers competitive rewards and opportunities for professional growth in a dynamic team-oriented atmosphere.

Benefits

Pension scheme

Health and well-being support

Generous sick pay scheme

Free snacks and fresh fruits

Qualifications

• Education to Ph.D. level in cell biology or related fields.
• 2+ years of postdoctoral or industrial drug discovery experience required.
• Experience of independent, self-directed work.

Responsibilities

• Design, plan, manage and deliver internal and client research projects.
• Perform in vitro experiments and assays to an exceptional standard.
• Maintain mammalian cell cultures across various scientific fields.

Skills

Assay development expertise for target ID/validation

Broad understanding of the drug discovery process

Experience handling large datasets

Mammalian cell culture and complex cell models

Practical experience with genetic engineering technologies

Expertise in cellular and molecular techniques

Education

Ph.D. level in cell biology or related fields

2+ years of postdoctoral or industrial drug discovery experience

Tools

Robotic liquid handlers programming

Basic programming skills in Python or C#

Job description

Overview

Arctoris is expanding and seeking to recruit an experienced Cell Biologist, preferably someone with experience of working in an automated lab environment. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in all aspects of both our client‑focused work and collaborative discovery and automation projects.

Responsibilities

• Design, plan, manage and deliver internal and client research projects
• Perform in vitro experiments and assays to an exceptional standard
• Maintain mammalian cell cultures across a variety of scientific fields and disease settings (e.g. cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular)
• Develop and optimise cell‑based assays utilising the automation platform
• Data analysis, interpretation and presentation (including written reports and presentations) of experiment results
• Keep thorough documentation of work that has been carried out
• Follow standard operating procedures where required and establish new SOPs when necessary
• Provide feasibility assessments of projects in advance to aid the sales team
• Act as subject matter expert and communicate effectively with clients in scientific meetings
• Keep up to date with relevant scientific and technical developments
• Work well within a team to optimise processes, teach others and learn
• Contribute ideas to technology development strategies and maintain a culture of continual improvement

Qualifications

• Education to Ph.D. level in cell biology or related fields; equivalent experience in scientific R&D
• 2+ years of postdoctoral or industrial drug discovery experience
• Experience of independent, self‑directed work
• Proven ability to disseminate research results (e.g. in reports, presentations and peer‑reviewed journal publications)
• Assay development expertise for target ID/validation and/or drug screening, with a good understanding of assay statistics (e.g. Robust Z’, %CV)
• Broad understanding of the drug discovery process
• Experience handling large datasets including data QC and analysis
• Experience of working in an industrial setting
• Broad‑based experience in cell biology, ideally including:
  • Mammalian cell culture and complex cell models (e.g. 3D cell models, iPSC or other primary cell systems or co‑cultures) including development/optimisation of culturing conditions
  • Implementing, performing and troubleshooting a broad range of cell‑based assays (e.g. flow cytometry, imaging microscopy, plate‑based assays such as NanoBRET, HiBiT, ELISA, Luciferase, HTRF, AlphaLISA)
  • Practical experience with one or more gene engineering and gene modulation technologies (e.g. CRISPR or RNAi) for cell line engineering/development or genetic perturbation studies
  • Expertise in a wide range of other common cellular and molecular techniques, including qRT‑PCR, transfection, SDS‑PAGE, Western Blotting

Desired Additional Skills

• Expertise in neurodegenerative diseases, immunology, oncology and/or immuno‑oncology, with complementary advanced techniques such as primary cell cultures and 3D cell models
• Proficiency in advanced cellular and molecular biology techniques (e.g. multiparameter flow cytometry or high‑throughput/high‑content imaging and associated analysis)
• Experience and knowledge of research processes and activities requiring compliance with the Human Tissue Act
• Experience with robotic liquid handlers, including programming and troubleshooting of Hamilton‑Vantage liquid handler using Instinct V software
• Experience in programming robotic arms and integrating equipment onto automation platforms
• Experience in automating complex scientific processes (ideally cell‑based assays), including troubleshooting and method validation
• Basic programming skills, ideally in Python or C#, with a strong ability to learn new languages
• Experience setting up and/or running high‑throughput screening (HTS) assays

Culture

• Dedicated, passionate and agile team constantly innovating and celebrating successes
• Flexible and collaborative work culture with extensive development and progression opportunities
• Inclusion, diversity and belonging are core to our success; we embrace everything unique and are proud of our diverse, rich culture
• Highly competitive reward package
• Pension scheme, 4× life insurance, long‑term absence insurance and other benefits, including salary sacrifice schemes such as Tusker cars, nursery fees, gym membership and bike‑to‑work
• Generous sick pay scheme and enhanced family‑friendly policies
• Health and well‑being support
• Minimum of 28 days’ annual leave, together with generous flexible and remote working opportunities for a great work/life balance
• Regular team events, fresh fruit and snacks, and many opportunities to socialize and build relationships

About Arctoris

Arctoris is a technology‑enabled drug discovery services company headquartered in Oxford. We combine automated wet‑lab experimentation, proprietary analytical pipelines, and deep scientific expertise to accelerate the design and optimisation of new therapeutics. Our proprietary Ulysses® automation platform and data infrastructure enable the generation of reproducible, high‑quality datasets at scale, forming the foundation for AI‑driven discovery capabilities across oncology, immunology, and neurodegeneration.

We operate at the intersection of biology, robotics, and data science, building systems that transform how scientists generate and interpret experimental data. Joining Arctoris means contributing to a multidisciplinary environment where innovation in data architecture, analytical tooling, and computational pipelines directly advances the creation of life‑changing medicines.

https://www.arctoris.com/