Senior Computational Biologist

Job summary

Help safeguard the UK through world‑leading science and technology.

Dstl (the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) delivers high‑impact research that underpins the UK’s defence, security and prosperity. Our work tackles sensitive, operationally critical challenges with global significance—and we’re looking for a talented Senior Computational Biologist to join us.

In this role, you’ll support and advise scientists across the Chemical, Biological & Radiological (CBR) Programme, collaborate with external partners, and contribute to research spanning fundamental science through to applied, operationally focused projects. You’ll also play a key part in maintaining and developing our operational frameworks, including proficiency testing and supporting real‑world sample analysis.

We’re seeking someone who can drive innovation in genomic and transcriptomic analysis, develop and refine bioinformatics pipelines, and help us stay ahead of emerging pathogen threats.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

In this role you will:

• Design and implement bioinformatics pipelines for diverse sequencing platforms

• Manage and curate complex biological datasets

• Advise bench scientists on experimental design, execution and analysis

• Provide ad hoc computational support across the research programme

• Develop novel solutions to challenging biological questions

• Shape the future direction of computational biology within the team

Person specification

We are looking for someone who has:

Technical Skills

• Strong computer literacy and hands‑on experience with computational biology tools

• Proficiency in Linux

• Skilled in scripting languages (Python, R, Shell, etc.)

• Experience applying computational methods to biological research

• Excellent communication, presentation and scientific writing skills

Experience

• Proven track record in computational biology research

• Experience working in a scientific research environment

• Strong problem‑solving skills and a systematic approach

• Effective team‑working and interdisciplinary collaboration

• Ability to communicate complex or sensitive findings to diverse audiences

• Experience presenting scientific results clearly to specialists and non‑specialists

• Evidence‑based decision‑making supported by robust analysis

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Qualifications

Graduate degree in biological sciences, biomedical sciences, bioinformatics or a related field

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Please give an example of where you have used your computational biology skills to carry out a scheme of work in order to answer a hypothesis as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,224, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £11,652 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

Sifting will take place week commencing the 13th April with interviews to be arranged from the 5th, 6th & 7th May 2026

Your interview will consist of behavioural & technical interview to include a presentation entitled: 'Please give an example of how you have assured that your computational biology outputs are reliable and high quality? Where suitable give examples of tools, processes and checks used'.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Dstl Recruitment Team
• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.

Attachments

Senior Computational Biologist_Candidate_info_pack Opens in new window (pdf, 5943kB)