Principal Scientist, Automation

Job description

Site Name: UK - Hertfordshire - Stevenage

Posted Date:
Jan 15 2026

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

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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 in 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.

In this role you will:

• 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…