Senior Research Scientist Mass Spectrometry

Senior Research Scientist Mass Spectrometry, 12-month contract

Company Name: Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Type of Role: Contract position, Inside IR35

Contract length: 12 months

Location: On-site, 5 days a week (Milton Park R&D, Abingdon, Oxon)

Department: Structural Biology and Biophysics

Looking for opportunities with purpose, impact and possibilities? Our client, Vertex, is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. As they grow their pipeline at pace, they are strengthening their reputation for creating transformative medicines for people with serious diseases.

Vertex are seeking a highly motivated and skilled lab‑based scientist to join their Structural Biology and Biophysics (SBB) department to drive small molecule drug discovery using mass spectrometry (MS). This team supports projects from early stage through to preclinical, and MS is an essential technology within their hit‑finding and lead optimisation approaches. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in developing and delivering mass spectrometry (MS)-based assays to support the optimisation of small molecule ligands as part of the drug discovery process.

Excellent communication skills are required, and a strong ability to work in a team. Experience with characterising macromolecules (intact mass, peptide mapping, PTMs), proteomics, Native, or HDX would be desirable.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge research and drug discovery efforts in a collaborative and innovative environment.

• Design, develop, and validate robust small molecule MS-based assays to support drug discovery and development programs.
• Optimise assay conditions to ensure high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility for small molecule detection and quantification.
• Collaborate with structural biology and biophysics teams to integrate MS data with structural and biophysical insights.
• Work closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and other scientists to align assay development with project goals.
• Communicate results effectively through presentations, reports, and publications.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory SOPs, and detailed record keeping in electronic notebook.
• Maintain, operate and troubleshoot LCMS instrumentation for routine and novel assays.

• Relevant Ph.D. or equivalent experience with proven track record of small molecule mass spec delivery.
• Experience running and analysing quantitative small molecule mass spec assays.
• Practical experience working with triple quad MS platforms.
• Hands‑on experience troubleshooting complex instrumentation.
• Track record for scientific problem solving.
• Sound understanding of data analysis principles and familiarity with data analysis software packages with particular focus on small molecule MS analysis.
• Self‑driven ability to organise resources and data, manage time and priorities.
• Desire to work in a fast, collaborative, and team‑oriented environment.
• The ability to communicate clear and concise updates across a variety of audience levels, keep track of experimental records and results.
• Experience with data organisation and downstream reporting of MS data to other disciplines e.g. medicinal chemistry.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Experience of small molecule Affinity Selection Mass Spectrometry (AS‑MS).
• Experience in biochemical, biophysical, bioanalytical, and/or cellular MS screening technologies.
• Familiarity with other protein MS techniques such as Intact Mass, Native, HDX.
• Experience of working within the drug discovery industry.

Vertex is partnering with Talent Works to manage their international temporary job openings. If you are successful in your application, you will be employed by Talent Works to work on a temporary assignment at Vertex.