Principal Scientist
5 days ago
Stockton-on-Tees
Principal Scientist – Materials Science Sedgefield | Full Time 37 hours per week (Minimum 3 days on-site) | £48,000 – £64,000 About the Role: We are seeking a Principal Scientist to join their Advanced Materials & Devices team, providing high-level technical expertise in functional coatings, materials science, and sustainable materials development. This is a technically focused, individual contributor role within a large, multidisciplinary team of specialists, where you will act as a recognised subject matter expert — contributing to complex projects, shaping technical direction, and supporting business growth through your expertise. You will play a critical role in strengthening capability within functional coatings and materials, while applying your knowledge across a diverse range of sectors including batteries, healthtech, and sustainable materials. Working alongside engineers, formulation scientists, and materials experts, this is a highly collaborative role with strong visibility across both internal programmes and external partnerships. What You’ll Be Responsible For: Technical Expertise & Thought Leadership • Act as a subject matter expert in functional coatings and materials, contributing to complex and high-value projects, • Identify emerging trends and translate them into new technical opportunities and innovations, • Provide technical guidance and insight to inform project direction and strategic decisions Project Delivery & Cross-Sector Application • Apply expertise in materials science across sectors such as:, • Batteries and energy storage, • Healthtech and advanced devices, • Sustainable materials and reformulation, • Support delivery of large-scale, multidisciplinary programmes, • Contribute to solving complex technical challenges in applied environments Business Development & Bids • Actively contribute to collaborative R&D bids and proposal development, • Support bidding activities through technical input and subject matter expertise, • Help build partnerships, including participation in consortium-based projects Collaboration & Networking • Build strong internal and external networks across industry and academia, • Act as a credible technical representative with partners and stakeholders, • Contribute to knowledge sharing and capability development across the team About You: You are an experienced materials scientist who combines deep technical expertise with the ability to apply knowledge across different industries and applications. You’ll bring: • Significant experience in functional coatings and/or advanced materials, • A strong track record of applying materials science in industrial or applied environments, • Experience contributing to complex technical projects or programmes, • Ability to work as a technical lead or subject matter expert without direct line management responsibility, • Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills Desirable (but not essential): • Experience in sustainable materials, surface science, or additive manufacturing, • Exposure to sectors such as batteries, healthtech, or advanced manufacturing, • Experience contributing to Collaborative R&D bids, consortium projects, or funded programmes, • Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional body This role is best suited to someone stepping up into a Principal role or already operating at this level within industry rather than academia alone. Why Join? • Join the largest materials science team within the organisation with broad technical capability, • Work on high-impact programmes across energy, sustainability, and healthtech, • Apply expertise across diverse and challenging applications, • Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge innovation and external partnerships, • Competitive salary (£48k–£64k) and flexible working environment Location & Working Pattern • Based at a highly innovative Sedgefield site, • Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days on-site, • Flexible working hours across 37 per week, with a focus on delivery and collaboration The Opportunity This is a unique opportunity to take on a visible, influential technical role within a growing and evolving team — helping to shape capability in functional and sustainable materials, while contributing to real-world applications that span multiple industries.