Lead Scientist Cell & Molecular Scientist

Overview

Lead Scientist in Cambridge drives hands-on R&D on CHO mammalian expression platforms for complex therapeutics. You will guide cross-functional projects, mentor junior scientists, and push technologies toward GMP manufacturing while delivering high-quality data. The role blends deep lab work with strategy to build world‑leading cell expression capabilities. This is a site-based, collaborative role with real impact on product development and manufacturing readiness.

Pay / Benefits

• agile career and dynamic working culture
• inclusive and ethical workplace
• compensation programs recognizing high performance
• relocation assistance
• location-based benefits
• global benefits available

Responsibilities

• Lead mammalian cell expression projects and deliver on project goals (≈80% hands-on lab work)
• Develop next-generation CHO expression hosts for complex proteins and transfer to GMP manufacturing
• Engineer mammalian cell lines via random/targeted integration and CRISPR-based editing; develop expression vectors
• Characterise engineered lines using analyses such as NGS, ddPCR, qPCR, flow cytometry, and advanced culture techniques
• Review and sign off experimental data; maintain traceable records and report findings clearly
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams; mentor junior scientists and share knowledge
• Build expertise in mammalian expression systems through technology development and PoC projects

Key requirements

• PhD or equivalent advanced scientific qualification with relevant R&D experience
• Strong CHO cell line engineering experience and mammalian expression system development
• Hands-on molecular biology experience including expression system manipulation
• Ability to design, execute, and interpret complex experiments with cell line engineering/characterisation techniques
• Proven track record leading scientific projects and contributing to technology transfer toward GMP manufacturing
• Strong collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills; proactive cross-disciplinary approach
• Working knowledge of experimental design and statistics; ability to derive actionable conclusions from data

• collaboration
• communication
• problem-solving
• CHO cell line engineering
• mammalian expression system development
• molecular biology (expression vectors, construction)

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