Senior lab Technician

About Us: Portal Biotech has built the world’s only platform capable of sequencing full-length proteins at the single-molecule level. Using our nanopore technology, we read intact proteins of any size, capturing both sequence and post‑translational modifications in a way no other system can. This opens up entirely new ways to understand protein biology, with applications across drug discovery, diagnostics, and biosecurity. Our technology works and customers are engaging. We’re now focused on scaling, turning breakthrough science into products that deliver real biological insight as we move beyond Series A towards global product launch.

Position Overview: We are seeking a Senior Lab Technician to join our team based at our headquarters in Scale Space, White City, London. This role sits at the heart of our laboratories, ensuring that our scientists have the reagents, consumables, equipment, and infrastructure they need to deliver high‑quality, reproducible science every day. You will own day‑to‑day lab operations, from preparing buffers and stock solutions through to managing inventory, ordering, and equipment servicing. You will set the standard for how our labs run, keeping them organised, safe, and audit‑ready as well as being the go‑to person for technical, logistical, and housekeeping needs across the team. This is a hands‑on, practically minded role suited to someone who takes pride in a well‑run lab, enjoys variety, and wants to be a foundational part of a fast‑moving, multidisciplinary team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare buffers, reagents, media, and stock solutions to consistent, well‑documented standards, ensuring readiness and reproducibility across all experimental workflows.
• Oversee day‑to‑day lab maintenance, ensuring benches, fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, fridges, freezers, and shared spaces are clean, organised, and ready for use.
• Manage consumables and reagent inventory, tracking stock levels, reordering proactively, receiving deliveries, and ensuring items are correctly sorted, labelled, and stored.
• Own purchasing for the lab: raise purchase orders, chase deliveries, and reconcile against invoices in collaboration with operations and finance teams.
• Coordinate equipment servicing, calibration, PAT testing, and preventative maintenance schedules with internal users and external service providers.
• Maintain accurate equipment, chemical, and inventory records, including COSHH assessments, safety data sheets, and equipment logbooks.
• Support the installation, commissioning, and decommissioning of laboratory equipment, ensuring it is set up correctly, validated, and integrated into our workflows.
• Manage laboratory waste streams (chemical, biological, sharps, and general lab waste), ensuring safe handling, segregation, and disposal in line with regulations.
• Act as a first point of contact for routine lab safety, health & safety, and facilities issues, escalating where appropriate.
• Support the team with general lab housekeeping, autoclaving, glassware washing, and other operational tasks that keep the science moving.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of lab processes, SOPs, and documentation as we scale, helping to embed good practice across a growing team.

Requirements:

• A BSc, HNC/HND, or equivalent in a life sciences, chemistry, or related discipline; or comparable hands‑on experience in a research or industry laboratory environment.
• Demonstrable experience as a senior lab technician, lab manager, or senior research assistant in a molecular biology, biochemistry, or similar wet‑lab setting.
• Strong working knowledge of buffer and reagent preparation, accurate weighing, pH measurement, dilution calculations, and aseptic technique.
• Practical experience managing lab inventory, ordering, and supplier relationships in a busy laboratory environment.
• Familiarity with routine equipment servicing, calibration, and preventative maintenance, and confident liaising with external service engineers.
• A solid grounding in laboratory health & safety, including COSHH, biosafety, and chemical handling.
• Highly organised, methodical, and proactive — comfortable juggling multiple priorities and keeping the lab a step ahead of demand.
• Able to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative, multidisciplinary team.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001, ISO 13485, GLP, GMP, or other quality management systems and structured documentation practices.
• Working knowledge of inventory or LIMS software (e.g. Quartzy, Labguru, Benchling).

Desirable:

• Experience supporting a laboratory in a startup, scale‑up, or fast‑growth biotech environment.
• Experience setting up a new lab, refurbishing lab space, or commissioning new equipment from scratch.
• Exposure to protein production workflows.
• First Aid at work certification or willingness to undertake training.

Portal is an equal opportunities employer. We are enriched by our diversity and are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and equitable environment for all. We are a values‑led company, and the dedication, passion, and enthusiasm of our talented employees is our cornerstone. We strive to create an environment where our team feels empowered to be their best selves, and where they enjoy working and building both the technologies and our company with us. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.