Automation/AI Operations Manager
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.
We usually respond within three days
Level: 4
Salary band: £65,000 - £85,000
Bonus: 8% performance-based, discretionary
Location: Hybrid - 3 days per week on-site in our London HQ, Angel
At Automata, we're on a mission to transform how scientists work by making automation accessible to every lab in the world. We believe that by giving labs the power to automate, we can unlock discoveries that will shape the future of life sciences—from diagnostics and drug discovery to synthetic biology.
But we’re more than just a company disrupting the industry—we're a team of innovators, problem-solvers, and creators passionate about empowering scientists. Our LINQ platform combines hardware and software to streamline workflows, making lab automation fast, flexible, and affordable. This means our customers can focus on groundbreaking research, while we take care of the rest.
Why Work at Automata?
Impact: Your work will directly contribute to advancements in science and medicine, supporting labs around the globe as they push boundaries in research and innovation.
Innovation: You’ll be part of a team solving complex problems (seriously, no one else has figured out how to do this yet), using cutting-edge technology (we have robots).
Growth: We invest in our people. Whether through hands-on experience, professional development, or collaborative projects, you’ll grow both professionally and personally.
Community: Join a diverse, passionate team that values collaboration (golf on a Thursday, Soccer once a month, movie nights whenever we fancy it).
We’re looking for an AI/Automation Operations Manager to design, build, and own internal automations and AI-powered workflows across the company.
This role sits at the intersection of:
Business operations
Workflow automation
APIs and internal tooling
Practical AI use cases
You will work closely with teams across Automata to identify repetitive or manual processes, then turn them into reliable, automated workflows or added tooling that scales with the company.
This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys proactive building and leading projects – and who wants to see their work used daily by colleagues across the business.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Process Discovery & Prioritisation
Partner with teams across the business to map current workflows and Identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and failure points
Quantify the impact of automation opportunities (time saved, error reduction, cycle time)
Maintain a prioritised internal automation roadmap aligned with company goals
Workflow Automation & Systems Integration
Design and implement end-to-end automations using:
Workflow automation tools (e.g. Zapier, Make, n8n, Workato, Retool, or similar)
APIs and webhooks to integrate SaaS tools and internal systems
Light scripting where necessary
Ensure automations have a clear ROI, and are reliable, well-documented, and easy to maintain & iterate on
AI Enablement
Identify and implement practical AI use cases
Work with stakeholders to define Human-in-the-loop requirements, guardrails and ongoing monitoring of outputs
Internal Tools & Enablement
Build lightweight internal tools to support workflows (often using low-code platforms)
Carry out tooling research and lead the implementation of appropriate external tooling (eg ERP system)
Enable teams to use automations effectively through clear documentation, training and feedback loops for improvement
Reliability, Governance & Scale
Own the operational health of internal automations and created tooling
Partner with Data and Engineering teams to ensure data integrity and scalability as the company grows
What We’re Looking For
Technical Skills
Hands-on experience building workflow automation
Strong understanding of APIs
Comfortable writing light-to-moderate code (SQL, Python)
Experience integrating common SaaS tools (eg Asana, Salesforce)
Practical experience using AI APIs in real workflows
Project Management & Product Thinking
Strong ability to translate messy, real-world processes into clean system flows
Good prioritisation, knows what not to automate
Bias toward shipping, iterating, and improving
Comfortable operating with ambiguity
Soft Skills
Excellent communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Collaborative and pragmatic approach
Clear documentation habits
Comfortable building new processes from scratch
Nice to Have
Experience at a scaling startup (50-300 employees)
Experience with hardware-enabled software companies
Experience working closely with Data or Engineering teams
Why This Role Matters
This role will directly:
Reduce operational friction across Automata
Increase execution speed and gross margin as we scale
Help teams spend more time on high-value work
Turn data insights into systematic action in collaboration with our Data Analyst
You’ll have real ownership, real impact, and the freedom to build
👀 Eye Care
🚲 Salary Sacrifice - Bike & Tech
🧘🏼♀️ Wellbeing & Support
☀️ Wellbeing & Development Allowance
💙 Spill & Employee Assistance Programme
🫂 Group Life & Critical Illness cover
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
- Remote status
- Hybrid
Colleagues
London
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