Principal Scientist, Automation in Stevenage

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

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.

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 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.

Basic Qualifications & Skills: We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:

• 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: Please note the following skills are not necessary, just preferred, if you do not have them, please still apply:

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

If you are passionate about leveraging automation to drive innovation and efficiency in pharmaceutical research, we invite you to join our team at GSK and help shape the future of healthcare. Apply now and be part of a company that is dedicated to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better, and live longer.

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. The information that you have provided in your cover letter and CV will be used to assess your application.

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.

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 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive.

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.