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About the Role

Substrate is building autonomous wet labs for AI biology, integrated with foundation models to create critical infrastructure for AI-driven biological discovery. This role involves developing, validating, and operating functional genomics screens, transitioning them from manual execution to full automation on workcells. The data generated directly feeds customer pipelines, including foundation model training.

Responsibilities

Develop, validate, and operate functional genomics screens.
Transition screens from manual execution to automated execution on instrumentation.
Set reproducibility and quality thresholds for screens.
Work alongside automation engineers during the transition to instrumentation.
Validate equivalence of screens at every step.
Own a slice of the screening workflow end to end: scoping, protocol design, validation, SOP authoring, and automated execution.
Collaborate with automation engineering and software teams on the boundary between scientific protocols and autonomous execution.
Design and run screens for AI-in-the-loop execution from the first manual run.
Ensure data generated (cell line provenance, library composition, perturbation metadata, sequencing QC, consistency) is treated as a first-class scientific constraint for foundation model training.
Set up a lab bench at the King’s Cross site and start manual screen development.
Run early steps of the day-1 wedge by hand and capture data structure and metadata decisions.
Author SOPs for your slice of the screening workflow.
Help interview Scientists and Lab Technicians.
Develop and validate the first screens manually.
Co-design protocols with software and automation engineering teams.
Decide which manual judgement calls need to be engineered out before hitting a workcell.
Contribute to co-design conversations with commercial customers.
Move validated screens onto workcells, running with instrumentation and human intervention.
Triage failures during instrumented execution.
Open the screening menu to customers via manual and semi-automated services.
Help onboard new Scientists and Lab Technicians.

Requirements

Hands-on cell culture experience, including CL2 wet-lab work with mammalian cell lines.
Hands-on experience in at least one component of pooled screening: cell line preparation, library cloning and QC, lentivirus production, screen execution, or sequencing sample prep.
Comfortable executing protocols at the bench through manual, semi-automated, and instrumented phases.
Track record of working alongside non-scientist colleagues (automation, software, computational) on a shared workflow.
Seven or more years of experience in functional genomics or related disciplines (target validation, perturbation screening).
Experience running at least one screening modality (CRISPR knockout, CRISPRi knockdown, or analogous) end to end: cell line preparation, library design, screen execution, sequencing readout, and hit calling.
SOP and protocol authorship that other scientists have run successfully.
Has supervised at least one junior scientist or technician.
Hands-on experience in cell line engineering, particularly iPSC differentiation or CRISPR-edited stable cell line generation (Nice to have).
Direct experience moving screens from manual workflows onto lab automation platforms (Nice to have).
Familiarity with structured experimental data capture, LIMS, ELN, or analogous data infrastructure (Nice to have).
Experience working with computational or AI/ML colleagues on closed-loop perturbation programmes (Nice to have).
Background at an AI-native biotech or foundation model company (Nice to have).

Skills

Functional Genomics
Cell Line Engineering
Perturbation Library Design
Screen Execution
Sequencing Readouts
Manual Screen Development
Automated Execution
Protocol Development
Validation
SOP Authoring
Data Capture
Metadata Management
Cell Culture
CL2 Wet-Lab Work
Mammalian Cell Lines
Pooled Screening
Library Cloning
Lentivirus Production
Sequencing Sample Prep
CRISPR Knockout
CRISPRi Knockdown
Hit Calling
Lab Automation
Software Engineering Collaboration
AI/ML Collaboration
iPSC Differentiation
CRISPR-edited Stable Cell Line Generation
LIMS
ELN

Location

King's Cross, London

Work Type

In-person
Lab-based

Experience Level

Scientist
Principal Scientist
Seven or more years of experience

Salary/Compensations

Competitive against the London market for functional genomics scientists at venture-backed companies, bands calibrated to seniority and scope.

Benefits

Options on standard four-year vest with a one-year cliff.
30 days annual leave.
A learning budget for conferences, courses, books, and time.

About the Company

Substrate is building a network of fully autonomous wet labs, cloud-based data production facilities for AI biology, integrated with foundation models to become the critical infrastructure layer for AI-driven biological discovery.
Substrate is spinning out of Automata, the UK lab automation company.
Funded by venture funding and government grants.
Not a cloud lab or a CRO; an autonomous lab platform with closed-loop integration.
Aiming to ramp up to 32 people by the end of Q1 2027.

Equal Opportunity

Substrate is an equal opportunity employer.
Hiring decisions are made on merit, scope-fit, and the strength of the working relationship.
Applications welcome from candidates of any background.