Staff Front End Engineer
Automata
Staff Front End Engineer
Automata is transforming the way labs work with open, integrated automation. Our mission is to unlock the potential of labs and the potential of the people who work in them.
Level: 4-5
Role Type: Permanent or Contract
Location: Hybrid - work on site in our London office 3x/wk
The Mission
We’re building at the bleeding edge of life sciences automation. Our product already saves lives — but with this next evolution, we’re scaling globally to achieve impact never seen before in the industry.
This is your chance to do career-defining work: high-volume, high-performance, globally deployed product engineering with a direct link to human health outcomes.
The Role
As a Staff Front End Engineer, you’ll be a hands-on contributor in a small, senior team, while also shaping direction and influencing technical decisions. You’ll work side by side with PMs and designers, turning user flows and wireframes into elegant, performant interfaces and a unified product that scientists and engineers rely on daily.
You’ll thrive here if you know the difference between building a product vs building a custom solution. We move fast, we think globally, and we’re obsessed with building something that lasts.
What You’ll Do
Build the Frontend at Scale: Own critical parts of the UI and its architecture, ensuring performance, usability, and resilience.
Collaborate Across Functions: Work closely with product, design and other engineers — delivering from intent, context, and flows (not waiting on pixel-perfect handovers).
Influence Direction: Bring strong views on frontend patterns, API design, and how frontend & backend fit together (we’re currently using Python, REST, GraphQL, microservices).
Stay Ahead: Use automation, gen-AI tools like Claude-Code, and modern stacks to drive velocity and efficiency.
Balance Speed + Scale: Help us ship quickly without compromising the foundations we need for global adoption.
What You Bring
Deep frontend expertise in JavaScript and React, with modern practices and shadcn experience.
Comfort working with design systems, wireframes, flows, and intent — and shipping without pixel-perfect designs.
A track record of building products from scratch or pivoting products at speed, ideally in startup/scale-up contexts.
Clear opinions on APIs, integration patterns, and backend collaboration.
A continuous learner’s mindset — tracking the latest trends and experimenting with new tools to raise the bar.
Nice to Have
Backend/API experience (Python, GraphQL, microservices).
Experience in high-volume, high-performance products.
Exposure to life sciences, healthcare, or other mission-critical industries.
Why Join Us
Build at the intersection of tech and science, where every release matters.
Join a senior, high-calibre frontend team within a broader engineering org.
Work in close partnership with world-class PM and design teams.
Hybrid culture: 3 days a week in our London office, balanced with flexibility.
Competitive package, and most importantly, the opportunity to ship code that saves lives.
🚀 If you’re a Staff level Front End engineer ready to work at pace, influence direction, and build products with global impact — this is the role you’ve been waiting for.
Private healthcare that incentives a healthy lifestyle
👀 Eye Care
Get your eyes tested once a year on us!
Sacrifice some of your monthly salary in exchange for a company car, provided by your Employer
🚲 Salary Sacrifice - Bike & Tech
Sacrifice some of your monthly salary in exchange for bike and tech products, provided by your Employer
🧘🏼♀️ Wellbeing & Support
Support for both your physical and mental health
☀️ Wellbeing & Development Allowance
Invest in your own well-being, personal growth, and hobbies
💙 Spill & Employee Assistance Programme
Access the therapy for you and your family through Spill
Time off for dependents, 'Me days', and volunteering days off
Plan for retirement with NEST
🫂 Group Life & Critical Illness cover
Life insurance - for a piece of mind
🎂 Birthday
Time off for your Birthday
We are an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Discrimination of any kind based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status is strictly prohibited.
- Locations
- London
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Staff Front End Engineer
Automata is transforming the way labs work with open, integrated automation. Our mission is to unlock the potential of labs and the potential of the people who work in them.
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