What types of biotech roles are common in London?

Common roles include research scientists, bioinformaticians, clinical researchers, and bioprocess engineers. The city also has a strong presence in genomics and pharmaceutical R&D.

Are there many startups in London's biotech scene?

Yes, London is home to numerous biotech startups, particularly in areas like gene therapy, protein engineering, and bioprocessing. These companies often collaborate with larger pharmaceutical firms and research institutions.

What is the work-life balance like in London's biotech sector?

Work-life balance can vary, but many companies in London prioritise flexible working hours and remote options to support their employees' well-being. The city's vibrant cultural scene also offers plenty of activities outside of work.

How does London's biotech sector compare to other UK cities?

London is the largest and most diverse biotech hub in the UK, with a higher concentration of research institutions, global companies, and funding opportunities. Other cities like Cambridge and Oxford also have strong biotech scenes but are generally smaller in scale.

What is the salary range for biotech roles in London?

Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the role, experience, and company size. For more detailed salary information, please refer to the salary section on this page.

Biotechnology Jobs in London

The UK's biotech hub, home to a diverse ecosystem of startups, research institutions, and global pharmaceutical companies.

Open roles

Salary range

£48k – £126k

Hiring companies

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London is a thriving centre for biotechnology, boasting a vibrant ecosystem of startups, research institutions, and global pharmaceutical companies. The city's unique blend of academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and a supportive business environment makes it an ideal location for biotech professionals. Whether you're working in genomics, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical R&D, or clinical research, London offers a wealth of opportunities and a collaborative atmosphere that fosters innovation and growth.

Salary on the board

£48k – £126k

Based on advertised midpoints across the 13 UK listings priced in pounds in the last 12 months. Base salary only.

Salary visibility: 21% of listings advertise a salary.

By seniority

£k base

Director

143

5 jobs

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57 live roles

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Regional Head, Pharmacovigilance Quality (PVQA)

This role involves providing end-to-end quality assurance and vigilance expertise for global and local pharmacovigilance activities. Responsibilities include driving regional quality oversight, ensuring compliance with regulations, and leading quality improvement initiatives.

Novartis London, United Kingdom £63,917 – £118,703 pa

Lead Central Monitor

As Lead Central Monitor, you will lead a team of Central Monitors, shaping monitoring strategies to ensure patient safety and data integrity in clinical trials. You will work across clinical, data, and risk-surveillance teams to translate complex risk signals into actionable insights and drive continuous improvement through analytics and technology.

Novartis London, United Kingdom £63,600 – £118,000 pa

Research Engineer - Post-Training

This role involves owning the full post-training lifecycle for biological foundation models, from alignment to production deployment. Responsibilities include designing and implementing pipelines, building validation frameworks, and collaborating with ML and biology teams to ensure models are scientifically meaningful and aligned with real-world drug discovery problems.

Helical London, United Kingdom

On-site Permanent

Research Associate in Functional Genomics

This role involves establishing and running iPSC-derived kidney and ureteric bud organoid models, using CRISPR interference to perturb candidate cis-regulatory elements, and profiling the consequences using advanced techniques like single-nucleus multiomics and CUT&RUN. You will work collaboratively with bioinformaticians and clinicians to generate and test hypotheses, and have opportunities for advanced training and independent research.

Imperial College London London, United Kingdom £50 – £59 pa

Contract

Senior Manager, Government Affairs – UK

This role involves shaping and executing Moderna’s Government Affairs strategy across the UK, with a focus on enabling innovative mRNA-based respiratory vaccines through policy engagement. The individual will build relationships with government, Parliament, and healthcare stakeholders, translate political and policy trends into strategic positions, and leverage AI tools to enhance policy intelligence. Collaboration across internal teams and external partners is key to influencing public policy and supporting Moderna’s mission in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

Moderna London, United Kingdom

Research Engineer (LLM Performance), London

You will work on optimizing large language models for performance and scalability within a cutting-edge AI-driven drug discovery environment. The role involves implementing post-training methods, diagnosing distributed system bottlenecks, and deploying low-precision techniques to support real-world drug design applications. Collaboration with interdisciplinary research teams is central to translating novel AI methods into production-ready systems.

Isomorphic Labs London, United Kingdom

Technician in Gene and Cell Therapy, Translational Research 12-month Fixed-Term

This role involves supporting pre-clinical research through the production and characterisation of lentiviral vectors for gene therapy. The technician will perform molecular cloning, cell culture, transfection, and quality control using flow cytometry and ddPCR. The position requires meticulous documentation, protocol optimisation, and collaboration within the translational research team to advance therapeutic development.

Orchard Therapeutics London, United Kingdom

Hybrid Contract

Laboratory Technician

Process environmental samples through DNA extraction, normalization, and library preparation pipelines using automated systems and manual techniques. Perform QC checks, maintain LIMS records, and support R&D protocol testing in a high-throughput, CL2-compliant lab environment. Contribute to maintaining a safe, organized workspace and enable scalable data generation for AI-driven biological discovery.

Basecamp Research London, United Kingdom

On-site Permanent

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The scene

Hiring in London

London's biotech sector is highly competitive, with a constant demand for skilled professionals. Companies ranging from early-stage startups to established pharmaceutical giants are actively hiring, offering a range of opportunities for those with a background in biological sciences.

The city's strong academic institutions, such as Imperial College London and University College London, provide a steady stream of talent and cutting-edge research. This ecosystem fosters a collaborative environment where innovation thrives, making London a prime location for biotech careers.

FAQs

Common questions

Common roles include research scientists, bioinformaticians, clinical researchers, and bioprocess engineers. The city also has a strong presence in genomics and pharmaceutical R&D.
Yes, London is home to numerous biotech startups, particularly in areas like gene therapy, protein engineering, and bioprocessing. These companies often collaborate with larger pharmaceutical firms and research institutions.
Work-life balance can vary, but many companies in London prioritise flexible working hours and remote options to support their employees' well-being. The city's vibrant cultural scene also offers plenty of activities outside of work.
London is the largest and most diverse biotech hub in the UK, with a higher concentration of research institutions, global companies, and funding opportunities. Other cities like Cambridge and Oxford also have strong biotech scenes but are generally smaller in scale.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the role, experience, and company size. For more detailed salary information, please refer to the salary section on this page.

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