Senior Scientist - Laboratory Automation – Process Chemistry

Join our expert team at AstraZeneca to pioneer a new future to meet global healthcare challenges. Be part of shaping a better future for all, supporting healthy communities by addressing the global societal and economic burden of disease. We are committed to leading in sustainability. Backed by a belief in the connection between the health of our business, people and the planet.  

In Chemical Development we believe that nothing is impossible, and we are determined to push the boundaries of science to deliver medicines to our patients. We combine people’s technical knowledge and understanding with their talent and drive to design, develop and optimise synthetic routes and processes that deliver the active pharmaceutical ingredients of our medicines in a sustainable, commercially viable way.

We believe in innovation and continuous improvement, working closely with colleagues in academia and across industry, to ensure that we apply the cutting-edge technologies and principles in the processes we develop. We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Scientist to join the Automation & Data Science unit as a Laboratory Automation Scientist. The role will develop, deliver and support new automation platforms, while maintaining our growing fleet of automated and semi-automated experimental equipment.  

This role is key to advance our Lab of the Future programme by enabling effective data generation and seamless data flows across the digital laboratory ecosystem. As part of a team of automation specialists, you will take ownership of a diverse range of laboratory instruments, ensuring their availability, performance and suitability for experimental workflows. You will troubleshoot and optimise existing systems while developing and deploying new automated workflows for wider departmental use.  

You will support the day-to-day activities of the laboratory facilities management team, ensuring that troubleshooting and routine laboratory housekeeping are completed effectively and in line with departmental requirements. As a key and central part of the Lab of the Future program, you will work in close partnership with chemists, engineers, data scientists, and IT, enabling data-rich experimentation and smart process development.

Your role encompasses hands-on interaction with automation hardware/software, programming and troubleshooting systems, collaborating on integration projects, and ensuring solutions are robust and compliant with quality requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Drive the design, implementation, and integration of automated platforms for synthetic and analytical chemistry, ensuring efficiency from reagent management to data capture and modelling. Program and operate laboratory robotics, troubleshoot and resolve technical issues, and work closely with vendors and internal teams to optimize system performance. Lead or support technology evaluation, platform upgrades, and new automation initiatives that advance laboratory digital maturity.

Train and empower laboratory scientists on use, maintenance, and best practice for new and existing automation systems. Ensure compliance with laboratory and IT quality standards, including software validation, change management, and system security and safety protocols. Ensure safe laboratory operations and prepare the required safety documentation. Streamline laboratory operations through the implementation of lab governance activities such as lab mapping, automated inventory tracking and QR-enabled service-request management.

Execute practical experimental work on our automated platforms. This includes the execution of instrument testing protocols when designing new workflows or assuring data quality on new instrument investments. It may extend to provision of project data which feeds the development activities delivering new drug substance targets.  Provide expert hands-on support to the facilities management team delivering the Mettler Toledo fleet maintenance.

Essential requirements A degree (at PhD or lower-level with equivalent professional experience) in chemistry, chemical robotics or mechanical engineering, or a related technical field with hands-on experience in laboratory or process automation. Proficiency in programming and scripting for automation platforms, robotics, and laboratory informatics.

Experience with CAD and prototyping new tools and equipment Operational experience with laboratory automation systems, including design/development, troubleshooting, and…