Advanced Research Engineer - Materials Technology

MTC - Manufacturing Technology Centre; Coventry; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry is seeking an Advanced Research Engineer to join the Materials Technology team. You will lead technical work packages, drive development from concept to industrial application, and collaborate with industry partners across aerospace, automotive, energy, rail and other sectors.

You will deliver innovative engineering projects, develop technology capabilities, and contribute to programmes that bridge research and real-world manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related discipline.
• Experience developing and industrialising materials processing technologies.
• Proven delivery of applied research or technology development projects in an R&D environment.
• Experience designing and executing experimental and validation programmes.
• Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to lead technical activities and work with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver technical project activities across advanced materials processing programmes.
• Lead technical work packages and support project delivery to quality, cost, and timescales.
• Develop, validate and industrialise materials processing technologies.
• Design and execute experimental programmes, demonstrations and validation activities.
• Conduct technology assessments, trade-off studies and technical down-selection exercises.
• Support development of new technology capabilities for MTC and its industrial partners.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders.
• Produce technical reports, presentations and customer-facing documentation.
• Identify technical risks and implement mitigation strategies.

Skills

Technical problem-solving

Leadership of technical activities

Analytical skills

Effective stakeholder collaboration

Verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical/Process/Materials Engineering or Chemistry

Postgraduate qualification or PhD (Desirable)

Chartered Engineer status or progression toward registration (Desirable)

Tools

DoE knowledge

Pilot plant experience

Job description

The Vacancy

Drive the Future of Advanced Manufacturing

Are you passionate about developing and industrialising innovative materials processing technologies? Do you enjoy solving complex engineering challenges and delivering cutting-edge research that makes a real impact?

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is looking for an Advanced Research Engineer to join our growing Materials Technology team in Coventry. Working at the forefront of UK manufacturing innovation, you'll help bridge the gap between research and industrial application, supporting organisations across sectors including aerospace, automotive, energy, rail and advanced manufacturing.

About MTC

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is one of the UK's leading research and technology organisations, helping manufacturers develop, prove and deploy advanced technologies. As part of the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, we work with industry, academia and government partners to accelerate innovation and strengthen UK manufacturing competitiveness.

The Opportunity

As an Advanced Research Engineer, you will play a key role in delivering innovative engineering projects focused on materials processing technologies. You'll lead technical work packages, contribute to technology development programmes and support the successful delivery of projects from concept through to industrial application.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with world-class facilities, multidisciplinary teams and leading industrial partners while developing innovative solutions that deliver real-world impact.

What You'll Be Doing

• Deliver technical project activities across advanced materials processing programmes.
• Lead technical work packages and support project delivery to agreed quality, cost and timescale requirements.
• Develop, validate and industrialise materials processing technologies.
• Design and execute experimental programmes, technology demonstrations and process validation activities.
• Conduct technology assessments, trade-off studies and technical down-selection exercises.
• Support the development of new technology capabilities for MTC and its industrial partners.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary engineering teams and external stakeholders.
• Produce technical reports, presentations and customer-facing documentation.
• Identify technical risks and implement effective mitigation strategies.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or a related discipline.
• Experience developing and industrialising materials processing technologies.
• Proven delivery of applied research or technology development projects within an R&D environment.
• Experience designing and executing experimental and validation programmes.
• Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to lead technical activities and work effectively with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience with pilot plant development, process scale-up or manufacturing implementation.
• Knowledge of process safety methodologies such as HAZID or HAZOP.
• Experience commissioning industrial equipment.
• Understanding of Design of Experiments (DoE) and process optimisation techniques.
• Experience within regulated sectors such as aerospace, defence, nuclear, pharmaceutical or energy.
• Postgraduate qualification or PhD in a relevant discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status or working towards professional registration.

About The MTC

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is an internationally renowned and respected research and development organisation, bridging the gap between academia and manufacturing, and is home to some of the brightest minds in engineering from around the globe.

The MTC's engineers, scientists and technicians work with some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world in a supportive and collegiate environment for the development and demonstration of new technologies on an industrial scale, helping manufacturers of all sizes develop new and innovative processes and technologies.

Established to prove cutting edge manufacturing advances in an agile environment in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions, the MTC works with hundreds of industrial clients across a range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, rail, informatics, food and drink, infrastructure, construction and civil engineering, electronics, oil and gas and defence. The MTC helps businesses thrive by advancing their technological and engineering capabilities to improve their business efficiency, capability and competitiveness.

Supported by one of the largest public sector investments in UK Manufacturing, the MTC's engineering capabilities cover research and development, advanced manufacturing management, factory design and training for the skills of the future.

The MTC has world-class facilities in Coventry, Liverpool and Oxford, and is part of the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.

Reference Checks and Security Checks (where applicable)

Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to satisfactory references being obtained alongside a level of security clearance checks.