Scientific Software

We recruit software engineers, developers and firmware specialists across the UK and Europe, supporting scientific instrument vendors, laboratory automation companies and lab informatics businesses. We understand that scientific software requires more than great coding skills - it takes an understanding of the instruments, applications and scientific environments it supports. It’s specialist scientific software recruitment built on genuine industry understanding.

Where we can help

We recruit Software Engineers, Developers, Software Test Engineers and Firmware Specialists across the UK and Europe's scientific sector, supporting instrument manufacturers, laboratory automation companies and lab informatics businesses. Scientific software isn’t generic software - our technical backgrounds mean we understand the instruments, applications and laboratory environments behind it, helping us identify developers with the right combination of software and scientific expertise.

Stack coverage

Stack coverage

Our scientific software recruitment expertise spans instrumentation control software, data processing, UI & UX, LIMS, laboratory automation, embedded software and computer systems validation (CSV), covering technologies including C, C#, C++, Python, .NET and React.

Stack coverage

Stack coverage

Our scientific software recruitment expertise spans instrumentation control software, data processing, UI & UX, LIMS, laboratory automation, embedded software and computer systems validation (CSV), covering technologies including C, C#, C++, Python, .NET and React.

Roles

Roles

Job titles from Software Engineer, Software Developer, Software Test Engineer and Firmware Engineer, Embedded Software Engineer, Software Test Engineers, Test & Validation Engineers through to Technical Leads, Software Engineering Manager and Head of Software.

Roles

Roles

Job titles from Software Engineer, Software Developer, Software Test Engineer and Firmware Engineer, Embedded Software Engineer, Software Test Engineers, Test & Validation Engineers through to Technical Leads, Software Engineering Manager and Head of Software.

Industries

Industries

Industries served: scientific instrument manufacturers, laboratory automation and OEM businesses, medical devices, life science software and biotech informatics. 

Industries

Industries

Industries served: scientific instrument manufacturers, laboratory automation and OEM businesses, medical devices, life science software and biotech informatics. 

Employment Type

Employment Type

Permanent, temporary and contract assignments across UK and Europe.

Employment Type

Employment Type

Permanent, temporary and contract assignments across UK and Europe.

Why scientific software hiring needs scientific recruiters

Scientific software requires more than strong coding skills. Developers may be building software that controls scientific instrumentation, interfaces directly with hardware, writing firmware that runs analytical instruments, supports laboratory automation or building software stacks that are used within regulated environments (e.g GMP, GLP, GXP, ISO). We understand this context, so we look beyond programming languages to consider the instruments, applications and end users behind the software - helping us identify developers with the right technical experience for scientific environments.

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What makes scientific software different from generic enterprise software?

Scientific software often sits much closer to the science and hardware it supports. It may control analytical instruments and lab automation, interface with embedded systems and firmware, or operate within regulated pharma and clinical environments where validation and compliance are critical. It’s designed for specialist users, so understanding how the software is actually used can be just as important as the technology stack behind it.

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Which technical stacks does VRS recruit against?

Our scientific software recruitment expertise spans instrumentation control software, data processing, UI & UX, LIMS, laboratory automation, embedded software and computer systems validation (CSV). We recruit across C, C#, C++, Python, .NET and React, matching candidates not just by programming language, but by their wider technical experience and the scientific applications they’ll be working with.

Scientific software roles we recruit for

From Software Engineers and Developers to Heads of Software and Engineering Directors, we recruit across all levels of experience. Typical roles include Software Engineers, Software Developers, Application Developers, Software Test Engineers, Front-End and Back-End Developers, Full-Stack Developers, Desktop Application Developers, Systems Developers, Web Developers, CSV Engineers / Computer Systems Validation Specialists, Software Programmers, Data Engineers, Embedded Software Engineers, Firmware Engineers and Software Engineering Managers.. and plenty of variations in between!

Does VRS recruit Engineering Managers and Heads of Software?

Yes! We recruit senior software and engineering leadership positions, including Software Engineering Managers, Heads of Software and Engineering Directors. For these hires we look beyond technical expertise to understand leadership and management experience, software delivery and stakeholder communication. Retained search is available for particularly senior, specialist or confidential appointments.

Does VRS recruit Scientific Software professionals for contract assignments?

We recruit contractors for a range of scientific software projects, including application development for new and existing instrumentation, UI and front-end development, software upgrades, LIMS and ELN integration, laboratory automation and embedded software development. We also support with additional development resource or interim technical and software leadership.

Industries we recruit for

Our scientific software recruitment expertise spans scientific instrument manufacturers, laboratory automation and OEM businesses, life science software and medical devices. We recruit for software teams developing chromatography, mass spectrometry and broader analytical instrumentation, robotic and liquid handling platforms, LIMS and ELN systems, bioinformatics platforms, IVD software and other specialist scientific technologies.

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Does VRS recruit LIMS and laboratory informatics developers?

We recruit across LIMS, ELN and wider lab informatics platforms, from system configuration and integration to bespoke software development. We understand these roles can require more than knowledge of a particular platform, looking at experience with laboratory workflows, instrument data integration, computer systems validation (CSV) and the wider regulated scientific environment in which the software operates.

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What about firmware and embedded software roles?

We recruit Firmware Engineers and Embedded Software Developers working on scientific instrumentation, laboratory automation and other technical products. These roles commonly involve C and C++, alongside embedded systems and hardware integration, so we look beyond programming languages to understand candidates’ experience of developing software that interacts directly with instruments and equipment.

FAQs

Got a question?

You can always ask us - we’re real people and we’re very friendly!

In the meantime, our marketing team tells us FAQs are good for SEO, so here are a few we prepared earlier.. 😉

Absolutely! We recruit Scientific Software professionals across the UK, Europe and North America. From our Paris office, we support scientific software recruitment throughout Europe, with regular opportunities in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Nordic countries. Our US office covers Scientific Software recruitment across North America, too!

Active jobs

GLP Study Director

Devon
South West
Competitive
Are you looking to develop your career as a Study Director in one of the UK's most beautiful coastal locations? This outstanding scientific organisation delivers high-quality environmental fate, ecotoxicology and analytical chemistry studies for global clients across the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and chemical sectors.

Senior Scientist - Immunoassay

Cambridge
East Anglia
£Competitive
Exciting new opportunity for an experienced, personable and analytically minded Scientist seeking career progression with an internationally renowned and expanding Contract Research Organisation!

Senior Scientist – Immunology / Translational Research

Slough
South East
£56,000 - £65,000
A leading pharmaceutical company is looking for an experienced Senior Scientist to join its Immunology Research team, working within the Resolution of Inflammation focus area. This is an exciting opportunity to support the progression and optimisation of therapeutic molecules within early clinical development, generating and analysing preclinical and translational data to support scientific decision-making and patient population selection.

Senior/Principal Scientist - Biomarker & Translational Science - Flow Cytometry

Slough
South East
£65,000 - £80,000
We are working in partnership with a global pharmaceutical organisation to recruit a Senior or Principal Research Scientist with strong Flow Cytometry expertise for a newly forming Translational Research team. This opportunity sits within the company’s Early Clinical Development & Translational Sciences function, working closely with an established Biomarker Assay Sciences group. The team supports the progression of innovative therapeutic assets – including gene therapies – from research through to early clinical development.

Group Leader - Immunoassay

Cambridge
East Anglia
Competitive
A leading international CRO is seeking an experienced scientific leader to head its ADA Immunoassay Bioanalysis function. This is a senior leadership role combining scientific expertise, operational management and commercial responsibility. You'll lead a high-performing team, ensure the delivery of high-quality bioanalytical services, and help drive the continued growth of the business

Associate/Research Scientist - Upstream Process Sciences

Slough
South East
£35,000 - £50,000
A successful pharmaceutical company is looking for an Associate Scientist / Research Scientist to join its Drug Substance Process Sciences team and support the development of innovative biologics.

Senior/Principal Bioinformatician - Transcriptomics

Slough
South East
£56,000 - £80,000
An exciting hybrid working opportunity has arisen for an experienced Bioinformatician to join a high-impact team supporting clinical-stage assets. Working at the interface of biology and data, you’ll play a key role in unlocking insights from complex patient-level omics datasets to better understand disease biology, treatment effects and safety signals. This is a collaborative environment where your work will directly inform critical scientific and clinical decisions.

Field Service Engineer

England
England
£40,000 - £60,000 + Bonus + Company Car
Fantastic opportunity for an experienced Field Service Engineer to join a successful and well-established instrument manufacturer.