Lead or Principal Scientist, Research Automation

Zealand Pharma • Cambridge, MA

3d • Onsite

About The 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. Zealand Pharma A/S is a biotechnology company focused on advancing medicines for obesity and metabolic health, combining over 25 years of peptide R&D expertise with a proprietary data platform. Founded in 1998, Zealand Pharma is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a U.S. presence in Boston, Massachusetts. The company's R&D pipeline focuses on obesity, rare diseases, chronic inflammation, and type 1 diabetes.

Requirements

• 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 Haves

• Experience with Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and/or LIMS-adjacent solutions supporting metadata capture, traceability, and auditability

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees