Lead or Principal Scientist, Research Automation

Does it excite you to work with global laboratory automation that accelerates early discovery research, and do you have experience with robotic platforms and integrated automation solutions? If this sounds like you, and you are ready to take on a broad area of responsibilities, then you could be our new colleague. Your new position As Lead or Principal Scientist – Research Automation in Molecular Platform Development, this role will define and drive Zealand Pharma’s global research automation strategy across Discovery Research. The position combines scientific leadership with hands‑on workflow engineering—connecting automation hardware, software, and data traceability. Working closely with scientific leaders and project teams in Cambridge and Copenhagen, the role will deliver fit‑for‑purpose automation for early discovery while anticipating future scalability and downstream needs. Responsibilities Define and drive a global research automation strategy aligned with the discovery portfolio, Molecular Platform Development objectives, and long‑term business goals Design, implement, and maintain automated laboratory workflows supporting early discovery research across chemistry‑ and biology‑driven programs Lead integration of laboratory automation technologies, including robotic systems and integrated automation platforms, high‑throughput liquid handling, automated sample handling/storage/retrieval, and barcoding/sample tracking solutions Partner closely with experimental scientists to translate scientific workflows into reliable, usable automated processes and ensure robust adoption in the lab Lead evaluation, selection, and recommendation of automation solutions, equipment, and external services; define business needs, assess vendors, and support procurement through technical due diligence and implementation planning Establish and evolve enabling software and data infrastructure for automated data ingestion and traceability, ensuring robust sample tracking, data provenance, and auditability across sites Qualifications The ideal candidate combines a strong scientific foundation with pragmatic engineering and systems thinking. Success in the role requires collaborative partnering across disciplines and sites, a focus on measurable value (throughput, reliability, and data quality), and a commitment to scientific integrity and clear documentation. PhD or Master’s degree in Engineering, Automation, Robotics, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Systems Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience with demonstrated expertise in research automation) 4+ years of relevant post‑degree experience for Lead Scientist roles; 6+ years for Principal Scientist roles Hands‑on experience working in a research laboratory environment supporting chemistry, biology, or integrated discovery workflows Demonstrated experience delivering laboratory automation systems, including robotic platforms and integrated automation solutions Experience integrating end‑to‑end workflows across instrumentation, automation hardware, and supporting software, with a focus on simplicity, usability, and fit‑for‑purpose design Nice to have: experience with Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and/or LIMS‑adjacent solutions supporting metadata capture, traceability, and auditability Benefits Anticipated base pay range: $173,000 – $211,000 Team You will join Molecular Platform Development and act as a global subject‑matter expert for laboratory automation, workflow integration, and enabling data infrastructure across Discovery Research. The role partners closely with scientific leaders and project teams in Cambridge and Copenhagen and collaborates across Discovery Chemistry, Discovery Biologics, Computational Research, Biology, Translational Research, Pharmacology, Bioanalysis, CMC, and Process Development. #J-18808-Ljbffr Zealand Pharma U.S., Inc.