Biotech Automation Engineer (Wet Lab and AI)
Type: Full-time, permanent position
Location: In person in our office in Edinburgh, UK, as well as frequent visits to our partners (accommodation and travel are, of course, covered)
Start date: Flexible, late 2026 or early 2027, depending on your availability
Salary: £45k–£65k depending on experience, plus options
Applications close: Monday 26 October 2026, 23:59 GMT
ABOUT THE ROLE
The work you’ll do
Danu Insights is hiring a Biotech Automation Engineer (Wet Lab and AI) to connect our software to real bioprocess hardware in partner labs, as part of a large cell-therapy innovation and automation project. You’ll work with both our ML/software team in Edinburgh and our partners’ process scientists, hardware engineers, and management teams.
You’ll act as the liaison between them: translating both ways, debugging at the bench, and getting our systems to work smoothly with real hardware. As Danu’s key representative on the ground, you’ll own the projects, keep them on track and be instrumental in project success, with ample support from the rest of the team. You’ll also deliver on-site training and bring bioprocess and automation know-how back into our team.
You’ll spend a significant share of your time embedded on-site at partner facilities across the UK. Accommodation and travel are, of course, covered.
Who we are looking for (ideally)
Wet lab and AI know-how
- Enough mammalian cell-culture / cell-therapy literacy to work with process scientists as a peer. Alternatively, experience in adjacent fields and a desire to learn quickly is also welcome.
- Enthusiasm for automation, AI and ML. Danu Insights is an AI start-up, but this is not an AI engineer role.
- Some software skills (e.g. Python, APIs, data pipelines, data standards) are key to being effective in this role.
- Bonus: familiarity with bioprocess control and/or monitoring systems.
People and projects
- Organisational skills and project management experience to navigate the project as the key contact from Danu’s side. This does not have to be formal (we certainly don’t need PM accreditation). You are comfortable bringing together different stakeholders (some more senior than you) and “think on your feet” to solve problems quickly and make this project a success.
- Clear communication, especially “translating” between the ML/software team and wet lab scientists.
- A desire to work at an early-stage start-up and to shape all aspects of it.
Unsure if this is you?
We are aware that we are looking for a particular combination of skills. If you are unsure if you fit the brief, but have experience or skills that you think would make you great in this role, we want to hear from you! Please use the link below to apply and tell us about it (we manually review each and every application).
Working at Danu Insights
We are a small, fast-growing start-up founded in Edinburgh. Our mission is to accelerate life-science discovery by empowering scientists to get more from every experiment through AI and ML. We develop our own award-winning tech stack set out to revolutionise biotech R&D.
We are a close-knit team that empowers each other to grow our product, our tech, and the company as a whole. We value adaptability, practical curiosity, and integrity. Most days are spent collaborating in the office, but we work from home on occasion or when life requires. Top-tier snacks and coffee included.
Approximate compensation
Competitive compensation package includes:
- Annual salary of £45k–£65k depending on experience
- Options
- 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays
- Dedicated training and professional development budget
- Direct mentorship from industry-leading experts
- Our central Edinburgh office, with the best view in the city
ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Application stages
Please fill out the application using the link below. This includes your CV, a cover letter, and one thing you’re proud of (see application form for details). We take time to manually review each and every application, so please allow up to three weeks to receive a reply. There are three stages that selected candidates are invited to complete:
- Short phone interview with one of our co-founders
- Take-home exercise
- Interview day with the team
Details on each stage will be shared closer to the time. We might ask you to provide references after the interview day. We will do our best to work around your existing commitments. If you require adjustments, please let us know during the application process.
Right to work
We strongly prefer applicants who currently have the right to work in the UK, such that we can get projects underway quickly. Your right to work does not need to be permanent. Holders of time-limited permission (e.g. a Graduate visa) are welcome to apply and we can consider sponsorship later in the role.
Indicative timeline
Monday 26 October, 23:59 GMT: Applications close
5 to 9 November: Take-home exercise for selected candidates (tentative)
From 23 November: Interviews
A final note on the use of AI
We believe that AI can have a positive impact on the work we deliver; we are an AI company, after all. You may use AI to help prepare your application materials, but please know that there are actual humans on the other side who are eager to get to know you. We look forward to learning about your own unique point of view, so make sure it remains front and centre when you engage the help of AI.
Ready to apply?
We are looking forward to receiving your application.
Pay: £45,000.00-£65,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
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