Senior Molecular Biologist

Description:

Exciting Opportunity: Senior Molecular Biologist (Gene Synthesis Start-up)

Are you a hands-on molecular biologist who enjoys turning science into real-world solutions? We are looking for a Molecular Biologist to join an early-stage biotech bringing a gene synthesis technology to market. Your focus will be on commercial implementation. You'll tackle customer-driven challenges head-on, solving problems and adapting approaches to meet real-world constraints and deliver results.

Job Title: Senior Molecular Biologist
Vacancy Type: Permanent
Location: London
Salary: DOE

About the Organisation

You'll be joining a biotech start-up focused on bringing a gene synthesis platform to market. The team is small, ambitious, and technically driven, working at the intersection of molecular biology and automation.

With support from Innovate UK, the business is moving rapidly from concept through validation and toward commercialisation.

The Role of the Senior Molecular Biologist

This is a hands-on, lab-focused role, working as part of a small core team to develop and refine process workflows that underpin a commercial gene synthesis offering.

You'll take ownership of key work packages, contributing directly at the bench while collaborating closely with internal colleagues and external partners to solve complex technical challenges.

Key responsibilities include:

Designing, executing, and troubleshooting molecular biology workflows related to gene synthesis
Owning and driving iterative experimental cycles to improve performance, robustness, and scalability
Developing and maintaining SOPs and documentation
Collaborating with external partners to replicate and internalise key technical capabilities
Establish protocols on automated liquid handling platforms to enable commercial scale
Operating and optimising sequencing platforms, including Nanopore and Sanger sequencing
Analysing sequencing and experimental data, including use of Python-based tools
Contributing to broader strategy discussions as the platform evolves toward commercialisation

The Ideal Candidate for the Molecular Biologist Role

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

A strong foundation in molecular biology, with proven hands-on troubleshooting experience
A highly practical mindset with a genuine enthusiasm for bench science and iteration
Familiarity with automated liquid handling systems
Experience operating Nanopore and Sanger sequencing platforms
Experience working within industry and have commercial acumen
Working knowledge of Python for scientific or sequencing data analysis
Excellent documentation and communication skills
The ability to take ownership of a workstream and drive it independently
Experience working in a commercial gene synthesis setting

Nice to have (Not essential):

Project management skills
Experience in synthetic chemistry pertinent to DNA synthesis

Background & Mindset

This role is best suited to someone who:

Focused: on leading and delivering scientific work in a commercial setting. Comfortable with working with the goal of meeting commercial objectives.
Has experience across both structured environments (e.g. larger organisations) and fast-moving or early-stage settings
Is comfortable working with ambiguity, evolving priorities, and high autonomy
Enjoys solving problems without predefined answers
Is collaborative, pragmatic, and motivated by building something newProject management experience is beneficial, but not essential.

Growth Opportunity

This role offers a clear pathway towards senior oversight. As the company grows, you will have the opportunity to:

Identify, hire and oversee lab technicians to support in processing
Build and mentor a growing scientific team
Contribute to external partnerships, fundraising, and strategic planningWhy This Role?

This is a genuinely unique opportunity for a scientist who wants to:

Stay hands-on in the lab while influencing company direction
Work on high-impact technology
Be part of a foundational team in a start-up environmentGuidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy