Advanced Laboratory Automation Specialist

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
We are seeking a highly experienced Advanced Laboratory Automation Specialist to join the Laboratory Automation Team within the Sequencing Operations Research and Development group. This role will maintain, optimise, and continuously improve automated liquid handling workflows across Scientific Operations (SciOps), enhancing efficiency, reliability, and scalability. As an Advanced Automation Specialist, you will be responsible for maintaining and optimising automated liquid handling workflows across SciOps. You will drive the delivery of continuous improvement by developing and refining methods, ensuring our automation infrastructure remains robust and adaptable to evolving scientific needs.
Working closely with SciOps operational teams, you will generate proof-of-concept data, validate solutions, and communicate results to key stakeholders including senior management. You will provide technical direction and mentorship to Laboratory Automation Specialists, fostering a collaborative and accountable team culture that promotes professional growth, best practice, and continuous learning.
You will take an agile approach to changing requirements, supporting operational continuity while embedding sustainable improvements across the automation fleet.
Extensive experience with laboratory automation and liquid handling.
Proficient in designing and writing complex methods on automated liquid handling platforms (e.g., Ability to work in an independent manner under minimal supervision.
Proven track record coaching and developing others to support independent working and ownership.
You will be an experienced laboratory automation specialist with a strong background in supporting day-to-day operations within a complex laboratory environment.
You will have extensive knowledge and experience of method writing on large liquid handling platforms (e.g. You will have the ability to balance shifting priorities while providing direction and mentorship to a team of Laboratory Automation Specialists. You will be confident in troubleshooting and optimising automated workflows, critically assessing performance data, and translating insights into practical improvements that enhance reliability and efficiency.
You will have a strong focus on continuous improvement, fostering a positive team culture, and supporting the professional development of others.
CellOps specialises in large-scale cell biology research and is continually evolving to meet the changing needs of the Institute. To date, the focus has been scaling cell culture, cell line engineering, cell model derivation and differentiation, whole-genome CRISPR screening, and flow cytometry.
SeqOps is responsible for generating high-quality genomic data and resources by transforming ambitious experimental concepts into robust pipelines that support the Institute’s scientific objectives. From cancer research and single-cell analysis to studies of parasitic organisms and endangered species, our sequencing teams leverage specialist expertise across a wide range of technologies and applications, including short-read and long-read sequencing, single-cell platforms, and spatial genomics.
The Laboratory Automation Team resides within the SeqOps Research and Development group, which serves as the entry point for new technologies to SciOps. The team evaluates and implements novel methods and automated workflows to optimise the efficiency, quality, and throughput of all incoming technologies, ensuring maximum benefit for researchers across the Institute.
Contract Type: Permanent
Hybrid Working At Wellcome Sanger
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity And Inclusion
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.