Principal Scientist Automation

Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare SA; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biopharma company located in Stevenage is seeking a Principal Scientist in Automation Platforms. This role involves the design and deployment of integrated lab automation systems. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in pharmaceutical research automation and have proficiency in network infrastructure, cloud platforms, and relevant programming languages. You'll collaborate with a dynamic team to enhance operational efficiency and support advancements in drug discovery. This role also offers a hybrid working model with competitive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual performance bonus

Healthcare and wellbeing programmes

Pension plan membership

Shares and savings programme

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Life Science, Computer Science, Engineering, or Bioinformatics.
• Experience with network protocols and cyber security in lab automation roles.
• Proven skills in lab automation system integration.

Responsibilities

• Design and deploy lab-in-a-loop systems and orchestrated automation platforms.
• Oversee network infrastructure for lab automation platforms.
• Troubleshoot automation hardware and software on Windows and Linux.

Skills

Network infrastructure expertise

Automation systems experience

Proficiency in Python

Project management skills

Data analysis abilities

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Life Science or relevant field

Tools

Linux

Windows

GCP

Azure

Oracle

Job description

Site Name: UK - Hertfordshire - Stevenage

Posted Date: Jan 15 2026

We create a place where people can grow, be their best, be safe, and feel welcome, valued and included. We offer a competitive salary, an annual bonus based on company performance, healthcare and wellbeing programmes, pension plan membership, and shares and savings programme.

We embrace modern work practises; our Performance with Choice programme offers a hybrid working model, empowering you to find the optimal balance between remote and in‑office work.

Discover more about our company wide benefits and life at GSK on our webpage Life at GSK | GSK

Principal Scientist, Automation Platforms

GSK is searching for experienced and technically adept Principal Scientists to join our new RTech Automation team within Data, Automation & Predictive Sciences (DAPS) in our Research Technologies (RTech) division. RTech Automation will spearhead the integration of automation technologies into our scientific workflows to deliver biology and data at scale. A critical component of RTech's vision as a technology‑driven leader in target discovery and molecule design is the establishment of an integrated design‑generate‑analyze‑model‑predict cycle within DAPS, supported by this centralized Automation/Engineering team. This team will transform RTech by deploying cutting‑edge lab automation and robotics at global sites, serving as a center for expertise and support to align strategies and maximize automation investments.

The successful candidates will join a team including automation engineers, application specialists and IT specialists. The team will be responsible for the optimization, management, and support of comprehensive automation platforms critical to our operations.

This role requires an individual with expertise in network infrastructure of lab automation systems, ideally both integrated platforms and standalone devices. This role will support and enable automation platform networking, data storage, firewalls, OTNs, Linux servers, windows upgrades, solving issues with AV software, implementation of cloud solutions with Tech & vendors. The role will be responsible for ensuring software ecosystems are designed, deployed and maintained according to GSK’s technology, security and application lifecycle standards so that research teams can reliably accelerate discovery workflows. The successful candidate will play a key role delivering lab‑in‑a‑loop systems and fully integrated automation platforms that accelerate research productivity and enable data‑driven science.

The ideal candidate will have extensive expertise in laboratory automation in pharmaceutical research. They will forge robust partnerships, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, and play a vital role in driving the success of automation technologies. The overarching goal of the team is to leverage automation to enhance our operational efficiency, improve scientists’ lab experience, support research processes, and further our commitment to delivering advanced therapies.

This role will report to RTech Automation Platforms Lead, UK and will play a role in shaping our vision and strategy in automating drug discovery workflows, while also providing technical expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise to design and deploy lab‑in‑a‑loop systems and orchestrated automation platforms, ensuring seamless data flow and system interoperability.
• Oversee network infrastructure for lab automation platforms, handling design, deployment, support, installation, configuration, qualification, and operational handover. Act as the main technical contact between research scientists, automation engineers, and GSK Tech to gather requirements, set priorities, deliver solutions, and promote ongoing improvements.
• Implement, configure and maintain secure network connectivity for automation systems, including TCP/IP networking, OT interfaces, and ensure compliance with GSK technology and security standards.
• Administer and troubleshoot automation hardware and software on Windows and Linux, independently resolving incidents and implementing short‑term workarounds to minimise research disruption.
• Support application and database hosting, deployment and administration in on‑premises and cloud (GCP, Azure) environments, including configuration of VMs, containers, and platform services relevant to automation applications.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, SOPs, runbooks, and training materials for automation platforms, while collaborating with Cyber Security and OT teams to assess and remediate security risks.

Why you?

Basic Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor's Degree in Life Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Bioinformatics, and significant practical experience in IT/OT roles supporting automation, infrastructure or applications in life sciences or research environments.
• Demonstrated experience with network, TCP/IP protocols, cyber security principles, secure configuration and system administration in lab automation settings, including practical experience configuring network interfaces for devices and instrument control systems.
• Experience with integrated automation systems in a research or laboratory environment(such as HighResBio, Thermo, Biosero etc), scheduling software (such as Momentum, Cellario, and GreenButtonGo), APIs, middleware, data exchange protocols and programming languages such as Python, R, C#, or Java.
• Proficiency in operating systems (Windows Server/Client, Linux), networking (TCP/IP, VLANs, firewalls, OT segmentation), cloud platforms (GCP, Azure), and databases (Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL).
• Experience with scripting (Python, PowerShell, Bash), monitoring and ticketing tools (e.g. ServiceNow), version control, CI/CD fundamentals, and data visualisation/informatics tools (e.g. Tibco Spotfire, Signals Vitro Vivo).
• Proven project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple initiatives while collaborating effectively and fostering innovation. Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication abilities, enabling swift resolution of technical challenges and clear engagement with diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

• Experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and electronic lab notebooks (ELNs).
• Strong analytical skills and experience with data visualisation tools.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities.

Closing Date for Applications – 30th January 2026

Please take a copy of the Job Description, as this will not be available post closure of the advert.

When applying for this role, please use the ‘cover letter’ of the online application or your CV to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements above.

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on discovering and delivering vaccines and medicines, combining our understanding of the immune system with cutting‑edge technology to transform people’s lives. GSK fosters a culture ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and committed to doing the right thing, making sure that we focus our efforts on accelerating significant assets that meet patients’ needs and have the highest probability of success. We’re uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together.

Find out more: Our approach to R&D.

#LI-GSK

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 25 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive.

We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale.

People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us at [e-mail] where you can also request a call.

Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels. However, we have created a Recruitment FAQ guide. Click Link where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive

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Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to your application.