Senior Scientist

Lonza; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biopharmaceutical company in Cambridge is seeking a Senior Scientist to contribute to developing next-generation CHO expression systems. This role involves hands-on laboratory work, focusing on designing mammalian expression vectors and engineering cell lines using advanced techniques. The ideal candidate will hold a PhD or MSc with relevant experience in R&D, showcasing strong skills in CHO cell line engineering, molecular biology, and collaboration. Join a diverse team dedicated to innovative therapies.

Benefits

Agile career development

Dynamic working culture

Inclusive and ethical workplace

Qualifications

• Strong technical expertise in CHO cell line development.
• Experience in transferring new technologies into GMP manufacturing environments.
• Working knowledge of experimental design and applied statistics.

Responsibilities

• Lead laboratory projects on mammalian cell expression systems.
• Engineer mammalian cell lines using CRISPR-based approaches.
• Mentor and support junior scientists in the lab.

Skills

CHO cell line engineering

Molecular biology techniques

Collaboration skills

Solutions-focused mindset

Education

PhD or MSc with relevant experience in R&D

Job description

Senior Scientist – Cell Expression Technologies

Cambridge, UK
The actual location of this job is in Cambridge, UK.

Based in Cambridge, this role offers the opportunity to work hands‑on in the lab while helping shape next‑generation mammalian expression platforms. As a Senior Scientist, you will play a key role in developing innovative CHO expression systems that enable faster and more efficient production of complex therapeutic proteins.

What you will get – Global

An agile career and dynamic working culture

An inclusive and ethical workplace

Compensation programs that recognize high performance

A variety of benefits dependent on role and location

• Act as a core contributor or wet lab lead on key projects focused on mammalian cell expression systems, spending approximately 80% of your time in hands‑on laboratory work
• Contribute to the development and delivery of new CHO‑based mammalian expression hosts for the production of complex therapeutic proteins
• Engineer mammalian cell lines using random integration, targeted integration and CRISPR‑based gene editing approaches
• Design and generate mammalian expression vectors using state‑of‑the‑art DNA assembly techniques
• Perform phenotypic characterisation of edited cell lines using methods such as NGS, ddPCR, qPCR, flow cytometry and advanced cell culture techniques
• Analyse, interpret and sign off experimental data, ensuring high‑quality outputs and fully traceable records
• Present results through clear written reports and oral presentations to internal stakeholders
• Mentor and support junior scientists, fostering technical development and knowledge sharing within the team
• Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams to deliver robust and scalable expression solutions

What we are looking for

• A PhD or MSc with relevant experience in an R&D environment
• Strong technical expertise in CHO cell line engineering and development
• Experience in molecular biology techniques used to develop and manipulate mammalian expression systems
• Demonstrated contributions to technology development projects, including experience transferring new technologies into GMP manufacturing environments
• Strong collaboration skills and a proactive, solutions‑focused mindset
• Working knowledge of experimental design and applied statistics

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.

Ready to shape the future of life sciences? Apply now.