At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product development for innovative lab automation solutions that transform scientific research.
- Company: Join Automata, a pioneering tech company revolutionising life sciences through automation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work, health insurance, and a focus on personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in science while working with cutting-edge technology and a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Extensive product management experience and strong collaboration skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for mentorship and career advancement.
The predicted salary is between 110000 - 150000 £ per year.
Level: 5/6 depending on experience
Salary band: £110,000 - £150,000
Bonus: 10% performance-based, discretionary
Location: Hybrid - 3 days per week onsite at our London office (Angel, Islington)
At Automata, we’re on a mission to transform how scientists work by making automation accessible to every lab in the world. We believe that by giving labs the power to automate, we can unlock discoveries that will shape the future of life sciences—from diagnostics and drug discovery to synthetic biology. But we’re more than just a company disrupting the industry—we're a team of innovators, problem-solvers, and creators passionate about empowering scientists. Our LINQ platform combines hardware and software to streamline workflows, making lab automation fast, flexible, and affordable. This means our customers can focus on groundbreaking research, while we take care of the rest.
Why Work at Automata?
- Impact: Your work will directly contribute to advancements in science and medicine, supporting labs around the globe as they push boundaries in research and innovation.
- Innovation: You’ll be part of a team solving complex problems using cutting-edge technology.
- Growth: We invest in our people. Whether through hands-on experience, professional development, or collaborative projects, you’ll grow both professionally and personally.
- Community: Join a diverse, passionate team that values collaboration.
We are looking for a Principal Product Manager to take a leading role in shaping Automata’s platform and execution. This is a senior, hands-on role for a product leader who thrives in fast-moving environments, takes full ownership, and consistently turns complex problems into shipped, high-impact products. You will lead some of Automata’s most technically and strategically important areas — including workflow orchestration, scheduling, and device integration — helping transform our platform from powerful building blocks into cohesive, customer-ready solutions.
Key responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end lifecycle of core platform capabilities, from product vision and discovery through delivery and adoption.
- Define product direction for a flexible, extensible platform, balancing configurability, usability, and reliability.
- Work effectively with engineering, design, science, and commercial teams, creating alignment and shared understanding in complex initiatives.
- Drive progress in ambiguous problem spaces, making sound decisions with incomplete information and adjusting as new data emerges.
- Partner deeply with engineering on technically complex domains such as workflow orchestration, optimisation, and device connectivity.
- Operate at pace with a strong bias toward action, ensuring momentum without sacrificing quality.
- Take accountability for outcomes, not just outputs, and ensure work translates into real customer impact.
- Mentor and support other Product Managers, modelling strong ownership, collaboration, and execution.
Qualifications
- Significant years of Product Management experience, including senior ownership of complex or platform products.
- Proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, building trust and alignment across disciplines.
- Demonstrated success operating in high-ambiguity environments, where priorities evolve, and clarity is created through execution.
- Strong entrepreneurial mindset, with experience in startups, scale-ups, or building new product areas.
- Demonstrated ability to take full ownership of large problem spaces and drive them to completion.
- Strong technical fluency, ideally including exposure to workflow scheduling, optimisation, or constraint-based systems.
- Experience with open systems, SDKs, APIs, or data-centric architectures is a strong plus.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including influencing at senior levels.
How we work
- Competitive compensation: Flexible hours with competitive salary and bonus.
- London HQ & hybrid work: Based in our London office with flexibility to work remotely part-time.
- High-trust culture: We hire experienced leaders, expect strong collaboration, and give people the space to deliver.
UK Team Benefits
- Vitality Health Insurance
- Eye Care
- Salary Sacrifice - EV
- Salary Sacrifice - Bike & Tech
- Wellbeing & Support
- Wellbeing & Development Allowance
- Spill & Employee Assistance Programme
- Additional Leave
- Pension Scheme
- Group Life & Critical Illness cover
We are an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Discrimination of any kind based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status is strictly prohibited.
Principal Product Manager employer: Automata
Contact Detail:
Automata Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Product Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those at Automata. A friendly chat can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into Automata's products and mission. Show us you understand how our platform transforms lab automation and be ready to discuss how you can contribute.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills. We love hearing about your past experiences and how they relate to the role of Principal Product Manager. Make it engaging and relevant!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate candidates like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Product Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Product Manager role. Highlight your experience in product management, especially in complex environments, and how it aligns with our mission at Automata.
Showcase Your Impact: When detailing your past roles, focus on the outcomes of your work rather than just the tasks you completed. We want to see how your contributions have made a real difference in previous projects or teams.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your skills and experiences, making it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for our team.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This way, you’ll ensure it reaches the right people and you can easily track your application status!
How to prepare for a job interview at Automata
✨Know the Product Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Automata's LINQ platform. Understand its features, benefits, and how it stands out in the market. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you discuss how your experience aligns with their product vision.
✨Prepare for Technical Discussions
Given the technical nature of the role, brush up on concepts related to workflow orchestration, optimisation, and device integration. Be ready to discuss your past experiences in these areas and how you've tackled complex problems in high-ambiguity environments.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
Automata values teamwork, so be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully worked with cross-functional teams. Highlight instances where you built trust and alignment across different disciplines, as this will resonate well with their culture.
✨Demonstrate Your Ownership Mindset
In your responses, emphasise your ability to take full ownership of projects. Share specific examples of how you've driven initiatives from conception to delivery, ensuring they had a real impact on customers. This aligns perfectly with what Automata is looking for in a Principal Product Manager.