Laboratory Systems Solutions and Support Engineer

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Laboratory Systems Solutions and Support Engineer to support pharmaceutical laboratory instruments, instrument connectivity, data integration, and associated laboratory applications.

The successful candidate will combine hands-on technical support experience with the expertise to design, implement, and troubleshoot integrations between laboratory equipment and systems such as Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELN), and Scientific Data Management Systems (SDMS).

The role covers a broad range of instrumentation, from balances, pH meters, and titrators to chromatography, mass spectrometry, and other advanced analytical platforms. Working closely with laboratory users, Quality Control (QC), analytical teams, IT, automation, Quality Assurance, validation, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and application teams, you will help ensure reliable, secure, compliant, and fit-for-purpose laboratory operations.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Instrumentation and Lifecycle Support

• Serve as a subject matter expert for laboratory instruments, acquisition software, and associated systems, including:
• Analytical and precision balances, pH and conductivity meters, titrators, moisture analyzers, and dissolution testers.
• HPLC, UPLC, GC, ion chromatography, and associated Chromatography Data Systems (CDS).
• LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, spectroscopy, and other advanced analytical platforms.
• Assess instrument operating principles, software architecture, data acquisition methods, connectivity capabilities, and interface requirements.
• Support instrument onboarding, installation, configuration, qualification, upgrades, replacement, relocation, and decommissioning.
• Evaluate vendor software, drivers, communication protocols, and integration tools.

Instrument Connectivity and Integration

• Design and document end-to-end connectivity architectures linking laboratory instruments, workstations, instrument controllers, middleware, application servers, and enterprise systems.
• Implement and troubleshoot connectivity using serial communication (RS-232/RS-485), USB, Ethernet, TCP/IP, vendor-specific drivers, APIs, SDKs, and integration utilities.
• Support file-based, database, and message-based interfaces, including shared folders and network file transfers.
• Define appropriate integration approaches based on instrument capabilities, vendor constraints, business requirements, cybersecurity, and data integrity.
• Diagnose and resolve communication failures, driver issues, interface incompatibilities, and data transfer bottlenecks.

Laboratory Application Integration

• Collaborate with application development teams and vendors to implement, test, and maintain instrument interfaces with:
• LIMS: Sample management, test assignments, results transfer, and laboratory workflows.
• ELN: Experimental data capture, calculations, observations, and electronic documentation.
• SDMS: Scientific data collection, indexing, storage, retrieval, and contextualization.
• Troubleshoot end-to-end data flows across instruments, acquisition software, middleware, networks, databases, and receiving applications.
• Ensure interfaces support accurate, complete, traceable, and reliable laboratory data transfer.

Technical Support and Troubleshooting

• Provide hands-on second- and third-line (L2/L3), or equivalent specialist, support for laboratory instruments, acquisition software, and connected applications.
• Investigate incidents involving instrument communication, software configuration, failed transfers, missing results, inaccessible or corrupted files, and application connectivity.
• Perform root-cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions in collaboration with relevant teams.
• Support laboratory users during critical testing activities and operational incidents.
• Coordinate complex issue resolution with instrument manufacturers, software vendors, service providers, and internal support teams.
• Contribute to incident, problem, and change management, and maintain technical documentation, knowledge articles, and standard operating procedures.

Compliance, Validation, and Data Integrity

• Ensure laboratory connectivity and integration solutions meet applicable GxP requirements and organizational quality standards.
• Apply relevant requirements and principles, including FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and EU GMP Annex 11 where applicable, ALCOA+ data integrity principles, and Good Documentation Practices.
• Support requirements definition, risk assessments, traceability, testing, qualification, and validation activities.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Computer System Validation/Computer Software Assurance (CSV/CSA) teams to establish appropriate controls for audit trails, access management, electronic signatures, data retention, backup, and recovery.
• Maintain documentation that supports compliant operation, ongoing support, and audit readiness.

Requirements

Required Experience and Skills

• Demonstrated experience supporting laboratory instruments and computerized laboratory systems in a pharmaceutical or similarly regulated environment.
• Strong hands-on troubleshooting skills across instrument hardware connectivity, acquisition software, operating environments, networks, and application interfaces.
• Experience integrating laboratory instruments with LIMS, ELN, SDMS, or comparable laboratory platforms.
• Practical understanding of serial and network communication, vendor drivers, middleware, APIs, file transfers, and database interfaces.
• Experience with chromatography, mass spectrometry, or other advanced analytical systems, alongside familiarity with routine laboratory equipment.
• Working knowledge of GxP, computerized system validation or assurance, electronic records, and laboratory data integrity.
• Ability to translate laboratory requirements into clear technical specifications and supportable solutions.
• Strong analytical, documentation, communication, and stakeholder coordination skills.
• Ability to manage competing operational and project priorities and work effectively with laboratory, technical, quality, and vendor teams.

Location, Travel, and Work Authorization

• Be based in, or able to work from, Kent, United Kingdom, with the ability to attend laboratory sites as required.
• Hold the appropriate authorization to work in the United Kingdom.
• Be available for business travel to pharmaceutical laboratory sites in Ireland and Italy, including at short notice when operational or project needs require.
• Hold a valid passport and any visas, permits, or other authorization required for the planned activities in Ireland and Italy, subject to applicable immigration requirements.