Automation Development scientist
About this opportunity
Make your mark for patients
We are looking for an Automation Development Scientist who is innovative, collaborative and detail-oriented to join our Characterisation and Material Sciences team, based in our Slough office in the United Kingdom.
About the role
You will support the development and implementation of automated solutions to enhance scientific workflows. Working across multiple projects, you will design and optimise processes that improve efficiency, data quality, and reproducibility. This role plays a key part in advancing innovative approaches aligned with future laboratory strategies while collaborating with diverse stakeholders across research and development.
Who you’ll work with
You will be working in a team of experienced scientists focused on the characterisation of molecules and materials. The team collaborates closely with experts in formulation, analytical development, digital and technology, and quality. You will also interact with international colleagues and external partners, contributing to a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary environment.
What you’ll do
Develop and implement automation solutions to support molecule characterisation and improve laboratory workflows.
Collaborate with scientists and digital teams to translate technical needs into practical automated solutions.
Design studies, and create and review protocols and reports to support project objectives.
Improve efficiency, data accuracy, and overall capability while reducing manual work and resource use.
Contribute to project planning and optimisation of scientific work packages.
Ensure compliance with quality standards and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
Interested? For this role we’re looking for the following education, experience and skills
Master’s or PhD in a scientific field such as biotechnology, chemistry, or a related discipline, with relevant experience.
Experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology analysis environments.
Knowledge or experience with automation technologies and scientific workflows.
Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across teams.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing project needs.
Proactive mindset with attention to detail and a willingness to learn.
Internal applicants should be in their current job for at least 12 months, must meet performance standards and are not on formal corrective/disciplinary process (PIP), warning, final warning, or compliance warning letters within the last 12 months. Please inform your Manager or your Talent Partner before applying to any internal job opportunities.
At UCB, we’ve embraced a hybrid-first approach to work, bringing teams together in local hubs to foster collaborative curiosity. Unless expressly stated in the description, this role is hybrid with 40% of your time spent in the office, irrespective of your current contractual agreement. Should your current working arrangements differ, please contact your Talent Partner to discuss, before submitting your application.
UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws.
Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on EMEA-Reasonable_Accommodation@ucb.com . Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.
Requisition ID: 93555
Recruiter: Aurélie Cuisset
Hiring Manager: Laurent Thion
Talent Partner: Jessica Hutchinson
Job Level: SA I
Please consult HRAnswers for more information on job levels.
Job details
How this role compares
Computed from every other active Manufacturing & CMC role in our database, not just this employer's listings.
We currently track 1527 comparable Manufacturing & CMC roles across 125 biopharma companies.
Salary context
456 of 1527 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)
Peers share this role's job function. This posting doesn't list a seniority level, so peers aren't narrowed by seniority either -- the range below may span more levels than usual.
Where these roles are based
Top locations among the 1527 comparable roles
+ 38 more countries
Seniority mix
705 of 1527 peers have a known seniority level
Therapeutic area mix
7 of 1527 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden
Similar opportunities
The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.
How we calculate "similar"
No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.
Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.
0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.