Principal / Lead Scientist R&D (m/f/x)

Role summary

Principal / Lead Scientist R&D (m/f/x) is a full-time role at LenioBio GmbH in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (hybrid). Posted 2026-10-09. Experience level: 10+.

Job title

Principal / Lead Scientist R&D (m/f/x)

Company

LenioBio GmbH

Location

Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Work arrangement

hybrid

Employment type

full-time

Category

Software Engineering

Experience level

10+

Date posted

2026-10-09

Job description

About LenioBio

At LenioBio, we believe everyone deserves access to better medicines and a healthier future.

To make this possible, we are transforming how therapeutic proteins are developed and manufactured. Our proprietary ALiCE® technology enables faster, more efficient, and more sustainable protein production, helping bring life-changing medicines to patients around the world.

We are on an exciting growth journey and are looking for curious, passionate, and entrepreneurial individuals who want to make a meaningful impact. If you're excited about breakthrough science, solving complex challenges, and helping build the future of biomanufacturing, we'd love to hear from you.

Everything we do starts with our mission: empowering our partners and customers with disruptive technologies that make protein production faster, simpler, more scalable, and more cost-effective.

ALiCE® is a scalable end-to-end protein expression platform that supports the entire pharmaceutical development pathway, from early discovery and preclinical research through process development and GMP-grade manufacturing.

Our vision is to unlock the full potential of ALiCE® and accelerate access to innovative protein-based medicines by reducing development timelines, lowering production costs, and expanding manufacturing possibilities worldwide.

Why Join LenioBio?

Work on cutting-edgebiotechnologywith real-worldimpact.

Join a growing and ambitiousteamwhereyourideas matter.

Take ownership and helpshape the futuredirection of the company.

Collaboratewithtalentedscientists, innovators, and industryexperts.

Contribute to a missionthathas the potential to improvehealthcareglobally.

About This Job

At LenioBio, you'll have the opportunity to make a real impact in a fast-growing biotech company where scientific innovation and entrepreneurial thinking go hand in hand. We value initiative, encourage new ideas, and empower our teams to take ownership, learn continuously, and help shape the future of our technology.

We are searching a Lead Scientist acting as the operational scientific leader of the R&D organization and trusted deputy to the Head of R&D/CSO. The role translates scientific strategy into execution, aligns multidisciplinary teams around common objectives, drives scientific excellence, and ensures delivery of R&D milestones. The Lead Scientist combines deep technical expertise with leadership, mentoring, and project execution capabilities.

What Your Responsibilities Are

Shape the scientific future of our platform by acting as a Scientific Lead within R&D. Partner closely with the Department Head and CSO to define research strategies, set priorities, design impactful experiments, interpret complex data, and drive critical scientific decisions.

Lead cross-functional projects from concept to impact. Own project planning, execution, milestones, and deliverables while coordinating team members, ensuring alignment, and communicating progress to leadership.

Empower and develop others. Coach, mentor, and support fellow scientists to strengthen team capabilities, foster growth, and maximize scientific excellence across the organization.

Drive innovation. Design, develop, optimize, and validate robust methods, technologies, and processes that enable breakthrough product development and accelerate innovation.

Navigate opportunities and challenges. Proactively identify scientific risks, solve complex problems, and uncover new opportunities that strengthen our technology and competitive advantage.

Think beyond your discipline. Contribute strategically across the entire product lifecycle, from early-stage ideation and research through development, scale-up, and production.

Help build our culture. Champion a collaborative, hands-on, and solution-oriented mindset where curiosity, ownership, and teamwork drive success.

Create an environment of continuous learning. Encourage open dialogue, constructive feedback, knowledge sharing, and a willingness to challenge ideas respectfully in pursuit of better outcomes.

What We're Looking For

You will thrive in this role if you combine deep scientific expertise with strong leadership capabilities and enjoy turning innovative ideas into real-world solutions in a fast-paced biotech environment.

Qualifications & Scientific Expertise

PhD in Molecular Biology, Protein Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Plant Biology, Biotechnology, or a related life science discipline.

Deep scientific expertise in cell-free protein expression, protein biochemistry, molecular biology, DNA engineering, synthetic biology, structural biology, or closely related fields.

Strong understanding of downstream process development, process optimization, and yield improvement. Experience withupstreamprocessesis a strong advantage.

At least 8 years of industry experience in scientific research, technology development, product development, or process development within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, CDMO, or innovative therapeutics environments.

Practical experience developing, executing, and optimizing laboratory methods and workflows in biotechnology or pharmaceutical settings.

Strong data analysis, interpretation, and scientific problem-solving capabilities.

Experience authoring scientific reports, technical documentation, protocols, and SOPs.

Leadership & Project Management

Proven experience leading multidisciplinary scientific teams and developing talent through coaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.

Demonstrated success managing scientific programs, project portfolios, timelines, milestones, risks, and resources.

Strong technical leadership skills with the ability to influence, align, and inspire stakeholders across functions, regardless of reporting lines.

Ability to translate scientific complexity into clear recommendations and strategic decisions.

Mindset & Ways of Working

Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for innovation, continuous improvement