Principal Scientist and Team Lead

Principal Scientist and Team Lead

Lonza

Cambridge, United Kingdom

As a Principal Scientist and Team Lead, you will play a key role in advancing Lonza’s Vector Engineering R&D capabilities, leading innovative scientific projects and developing people, while contributing hands-on expertise in recombinant protein production and mammalian cell culture.

What you will do:

• Provide technical leadership to R&D project teams, ensuring effective planning, timely execution, and successful delivery of milestones;
• Lead and develop a small team of scientists through coaching, mentoring, and day-to-day scientific guidance;
• Design, execute, analyse, and approve experimental work to generate high-quality data and documentation;
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional R&D teams to deliver improvements and solutions in recombinant protein production;
• Maintain hands-on laboratory involvement for at least 40% of the role, supporting experimental excellence;
• Contribute scientific content to internal reports, manuscripts, meetings, and conferences;
• Build and manage productive relationships with internal and external partners to support innovation and technology development.

What we are looking for:

• Advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field;
• Significant experience (typically 8+ years) in applied research and/or industrial R&D environments;
• Strong technical expertise in molecular and synthetic biology, recombinant protein expression, and mammalian cell culture (including CHO and HEK293 systems);
• Proven experience leading scientific teams, with the ability to communicate effectively across different levels and disciplines;
• Demonstrated success in driving ideas from concept through stakeholder alignment to delivery;
• Experience working in cross-functional settings to support technology transfer and commercialisation;
• A consistent record of delivering high-quality scientific outcomes on time.