We are looking for a Senior Robotics & Lab Automation Engineer to join the Corporate Research department at Sartorius. You will use your expertise in robotics and lab automation to develop the next generation of intelligent, fully automated lab workflows used by major life science and biopharmaceutical companies worldwide. This role requires expertise in applied robotics, laboratory automation, workflow orchestration, data handling and analysis, and an understanding of biological workflows.

Working with Sartorius you will have access to cutting‑edge robotic platforms and laboratory instrumentation – from collaborative and industrial robot arms to advanced liquid handlers, imaging systems, analytical instruments and bioreactors. You will be able to combine modern robotics tooling (e.g. middleware, orchestration frameworks, simulation and computer vision) with real‑world biological workflows to build robust, production‑grade automated systems. You will join a highly talented interdisciplinary and global team in Corporate Research that brings together robotics, software, data science and domain experts to develop automation, AI and advanced analytics solutions that meaningfully extend what is currently possible in the laboratory. You are driven by curiosity and problem solving, and your personal initiative will translate into innovations that simplify progress for our customers, from early-stage drug discovery to the production of biologics that treat life – threatening and chronic diseases.

This position is available full-time, as a hybrid role with laboratories in Royston, near Cambridge, UK.

Grow with us – Your Responsibilities

• Design, build and deploy robotic lab workflows that integrate liquid handlers, incubators, imaging systems, analytical instruments and sensors into robust, end‑to‑end automated workflows.

• Develop and implement orchestration and scheduling solutions to coordinate multiple devices and robots, enabling repeatable, high‑throughput and closed‑loop laboratory experiments.

• Program and configure robots and lab instruments (e.g. motion, I/O, device APIs, scripting) and ensure safe, reliable operation, calibration and error handling in a laboratory environment.

• Work with biologists and process engineers to translate manual protocols into automated workflows, including sample handling, assay steps, data capture and quality controls.

• Develop tooling and pipelines for data acquisition, logging and traceability across automated workflows, ensuring that instrument telemetry and experimental metadata are available for analysis and model development.

• Collaborate closely with software, data science and biology teams to integrate robotic systems with Sartorius’ digital platforms, analytics tools and cloud services.

• Contribute to concept development, prototyping and scaling of new lab automation concepts, from proof‑of‑concept in the lab to robust, repeatable solutions suitable for productization.

What will convince us

• Master’s degree or PhD in Robotics, Mechatronics, Automation, Control Engineering, Computer Science, Bioengineering or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

• Hands‑on experience in robotics or lab automation, such as programming robotic arms, configuring liquid handlers, and integrating laboratory instruments into automated systems.

• Familiarity with automation/orchestration frameworks or robotics middleware (e.g. ROS, OPC UA, message queues, SCADA, custom schedulers or lab automation frameworks).

• Proficiency in Python (and/or another relevant language such as C++ or C#) for scripting, device integration and workflow automation; experience with using APIs and SDKs for instruments and robots.

• Practical experience in industrial automation, autonomous systems, or lab automation; exposure to life science or bioprocess environments is a strong plus.

• Experience with data handling and analysis in automated experiments (e.g. logging device data, handling experimental metadata, basic analysis or visualization).

• Understanding of distributed systems, APIs and cloud‑based services is an advantage (e.g. connecting lab systems to cloud platforms or data lakes).

• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to interdisciplinary teams and non‑experts, and to work effectively with scientists, engineers and product stakeholders.

• Experience with working independently to drive the implementation of complex workflows and a willingness to be proactive.

• You have the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues within a large, matrix‑based organization and across global teams.

• Nice to have: Experience integrating AI or advanced analytics into laboratory workflows

In order to commence working with us, the successful candidate will have the right to work in the UK.

What we offer 

As a growing global life science company, stock listed on the German TecDAX, Sartorius offers a wide range of benefits: 

• Personal and Professional Development: mentoring, leadership programs, LinkedIn Learning, internal seminar offerings

• Work-life Balance: Remote options, flexible work schedules

• Making an impact right from the start: Comprehensive onboarding, including a virtual online platform – even before joining

• Welcoming Culture: Mutual support, team-spirit and international collaboration; communities on numerous topics such as coaching, agile working and businesswomen network

• Health & Well-Being: Wide section of health and well-being support such as healthcare plans and health assessment services 

Royston

Benefits

Attractive Working Conditions:

• 37.5 hours working week

• 25 days annual leave, plus public holidays

• Free parking on site

• Annual option to buy, sell or carry forward annual leave

• Free hot and cold drinks

• Regular social events and free exercise classes

• Competitive benefits package, including:

  • Group Personal Pension Plan

  • Private Medical Insurance

  • Private Dental Insurance

  • Group Life Assurance

  • Group Income Protection

  • Cycle to work scheme