At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative RNA manufacturing projects and solve complex technical challenges.
- Company: Join a top UK tech innovation organisation focused on advanced therapeutics.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, collaborative environment, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Work with industry leaders and multidisciplinary teams to drive innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of bioprocessing and make a real-world impact.
- Qualifications: Degree in science/engineering with experience in bioprocessing and GMP environments.
The predicted salary is between 49045 - 69045 £ per year.
Are you an experienced technical lead in advanced therapeutics, RNA technologies, nucleic acid manufacturing, LNP formulation, advanced bioprocessing or GMP translation? Our client is seeking a Principal Scientist to provide technical leadership across major strategic RNA manufacturing programmes, helping translate innovative technologies into scalable, commercially relevant and GMP-compatible solutions. This is a rare opportunity to shape the technical direction of complex, multidisciplinary projects while working with industry, academic and public-sector partners.
About the Organisation
You'll join one of the UK's leading technology innovation organisations, delivering high-impact programmes that accelerate the development and adoption of novel therapeutics and advanced manufacturing technologies. The organisation collaborates with partners across the product lifecycle, from early-stage development through to GMP manufacturing, with a focus on delivering high-quality, scalable processes.
The MSAT (Manufacturing Science & Technology) team plays a critical role in bridging innovation, development and manufacturing, supporting the translation of emerging technologies into robust, scalable GMP processes. This is a highly collaborative environment, offering the opportunity to provide scientific leadership across multidisciplinary projects, working with subject matter experts, customers and partners to solve complex technical challenges and deliver real-world impact.
The Role of the Principal Scientist
You will provide scientific and technical leadership across complex, multidisciplinary programmes, ensuring scientific approaches are robust, scalable and suitable for GMP manufacture. As a senior technical authority, you will inform technical strategy, guide technology choices and support delivery across integrated capabilities, including nucleic acid production, formulation development, analytics, automation-enabled workflows and GMP translation. Although the role sits within the Principal Scientist framework, it requires someone able to operate across disciplines, connecting scientific, manufacturing, analytical, automation, digital and quality considerations to support end-to-end programme delivery.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Providing senior scientific and technical leadership across major projects, ensuring technical plans, experimental approaches, and delivery outputs are aligned with project objectives and GMP expectations.
- Inform technical strategy, technology selection and programme direction.
- Identifying and resolving complex scientific and technical challenges.
- Preparing and reviewing technical documentation, including process descriptions, technical reports, risk assessments, change controls, decision papers, and project delivery documentation.
- Planning and overseeing experimental studies to support technical decision-making, process understanding and project delivery.
- Ensuring processes are robust, scalable, and suitable for manufacturing operations.
- Working cross-functionally with technical, operations, quality, engineering, and supply chain teams.
The Ideal Candidate
To succeed in this role, you will bring:
- A degree, or higher qualification, in a scientific or engineering discipline, with strong, recent industry experience.
- Proven, recent expertise in bioprocessing; biologics; advanced therapies; RNA, nucleic acid technologies or lipid nanoparticle delivery systems; or a related pharmaceutical manufacturing environment.
- Proven ability to provide scientific and technical leadership across complex programmes, including process development, scale-up, technology transfer, manufacturing support or technical problem-solving.
- Recent experience working within a GMP environment, with an understanding of the manufacturability, tech transfer, quality, and documentation expectations required to move processes towards manufacture.
- A strong appreciation of the end-to-end development and manufacturing pathway, including process development, analytics, automation, digital systems, quality systems, manufacturing operations and technical transfer.
- Ability to operate effectively in a rapidly evolving technical landscape, making evidence-based decisions where information may be incomplete and balancing scientific opportunity, manufacturability, regulatory expectations and programme delivery priorities.
- Strong problem-solving skills and data interpretation capability.
- Excellent communication skills and experience working across multidisciplinary teams.
- Credibility and confidence when engaging with customers, partners, suppliers, funders and senior stakeholders, including the ability to communicate technical risks, recommendations and decisions clearly.
Principal Scientist MSAT in Darlington employer: SRG Careers
Join a forward-thinking company in Darlington that values innovation and employee development. As a Maintenance Team Leader, you'll benefit from a competitive salary, a supportive work culture that encourages continuous improvement, and opportunities for professional growth within cutting-edge laboratory and manufacturing environments. This role not only allows you to lead a dedicated team but also keeps you engaged with hands-on technical challenges, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Scientist MSAT in Darlington
✨Get Involved in Local Research Communities
Tap into local biotechnology meetups and research forums. These are great places to mingle with industry professionals, share your passion, and even discover unadvertised job openings. It's all about getting your face known in the field!
✨Leverage University Alumni Networks
If you're a recent grad, don’t underestimate the power of your university’s alumni network! Reach out to alumni working in biotechnology to gather tips about job openings at companies like SRG Careers. You'd be surprised how willing people are to help out a fellow grad!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Curate a portfolio showcasing any research projects or internships you've completed in biotechnology. This tangible evidence of your skills can really impress employers when you chat with them at networking events or interviews. It's about making that killer first impression!
✨Stay Up-to-Date with Industry Trends
Biotech is a fast-paced field, so keeping yourself updated with the latest advancements is crucial. Attend industry conferences, webinars, or workshops to broaden your knowledge and meet potential employers. Plus, it’ll give you fantastic talking points for your interviews at places like SRG Careers!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Scientist MSAT in Darlington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Lab Skills:In the biotechnology field, it's super important to highlight your lab experience in your CV. Be sure to mention specific techniques or instruments you've mastered (think PCR, gel electrophoresis, etc.) and any relevant projects you've worked on. This will show SRG Careers that you have the hands-on skills they need.
Tailor Your Technical Skills:Make sure to emphasise your technical skills, especially those relevant to the biotechnology sector. Include any software tools or programming languages you've used, like R or Python for data analysis, which could be key for this role at SRG Careers.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Since this is a full-time role, your cover letter should reflect not only your passion for biotechnology but also your long-term career ambitions. Share why you're excited about the work that SRG Careers does and how you envision contributing to their goals. This shows that you’re not just looking for any job, but you're genuinely invested in this opportunity.
Include Your Papers and Projects:If you've published any papers or contributed to significant projects, mention them! These documents can boost your application and provide tangible evidence of your expertise in the biotechnology field. Don’t forget to link to any relevant publications or project summaries—this can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at SRG Careers
✨Brush Up on Lab Techniques
Since you're eyeing a full-time gig in biotechnology, make sure you're well-versed in the lab techniques relevant to the role. Be ready to talk about PCR, CRISPR, or any specific methods mentioned in the job description at SRG Careers. You might even be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these processes.
✨Know Your Bioinformatics Tools
Get comfortable with bioinformatics tools that are commonly used in the industry, like BLAST or Bioconductor. These are key in biotechnology, and having hands-on experience or at least familiarity can set you apart. Prepare to discuss any relevant projects you've worked on, especially if they involved data analysis or genomic research.
✨Show Your Teamwork Skills
Biotech often involves collaboration across multiple disciplines. Be ready to share stories that highlight your teamwork and communication skills, especially in research projects. Think about working with different teams at university or any internships – this is where you can show how well you fit into SRG Careers's culture.
✨Research Recent Biotech Innovations
Stay updated on the latest trends and breakthroughs in biotechnology. Knowing what's happening in the field can help you engage in more meaningful discussions during your interview. Bring up recent articles or advancements that excite you, especially those related to the work being done at SRG Careers. This shows your passion for the industry!
