Associate Research Engineer - Materials Science

NCC – Innovating for Industry; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Private medical insurance

Employer pension contributions

Job summary

NCC, a Bristol-based research and development organisation, invites applications for a role in advanced materials. You will contribute to projects across aerospace, energy and defence, from early-stage development to industrial deployment, within a supportive R&D environment.

The successful candidate will hold a relevant Masters degree and 1–2 years' experience, with expertise in polymer/characterisation areas and a collaborative, problem-solving mindset.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Materials Engineering or a related discipline.
• 1–2 years' work experience in industry, applied research or academic settings.

Responsibilities

• Delivering on applied research projects that accelerate development and industrial adoption of advanced polymer, fibre and composite technologies.
• Investigating, analysing and interpreting test data to evaluate material performance and inform decisions.
• Producing high‑quality technical reports and outputs to help customers and stakeholders make informed engineering decisions.
• Working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams to solve engineering challenges and deliver innovative solutions.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Analytical chemistry

Materials process development

Testing capability development

Materials characterisation

Mechanical testing

Education

Master's degree in Chemistry

Master's degree in Materials Science

Master's degree in Materials Engineering

Job description

NCC

Bristol based Hybrid working – 2 days on site, 3 days from home

Salary: £35,842 to £42,514 per annum experience dependent, plus 12.5% employer pension contribution and private medical insurance.

Advert closes: Monday 26th October – We reserve the right to withdraw the advert early so please apply asap if of interest.

Join a team of engineers working at the forefront of materials development. NCC is driving innovation to support UK industry and ensure that the UK is at the cutting edge of materials technology. You'll work with state‑of‑the‑art research, testing and manufacturing facilities, supporting projects from early‑stage material development through to industrial deployment. At NCC, we work across a diverse range of sectors including aerospace, energy and defence, giving you exposure to a variety of materials challenges, technologies and customers.

As demand for advanced materials continues to grow, we're expanding our capability and investing in new facilities, equipment and talent. We’re proud to be onshoring a new facility for the UK, you’ll contribute towards the development of chemical processes supporting the Carbon Fibre Pilot Line.

This role would suit someone with a Materials Science or Chemistry background, with experience gained through industry, applied research or academic study, who is keen to develop their career within a leading R&D environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Delivering on applied research projects that accelerate the development and industrial adoption of advanced polymer, fibre and composite technologies.
• Investigating, analysing and interpreting test data to evaluate material performance and inform decision making.
• Producing high-quality technical reports, recommendations and project outputs to help customers and stakeholders make informed engineering decisions.
• Working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams to solve engineering challenges and deliver innovative solutions.

What We’re Looking For

This is a consistent hire for NCC and in the past we’ve found that those with a relevant Masters degree, followed by 1-2 years work experience, are very well placed to join the team. That said, we’re open to consider anyone with:

• Knowledge & experience: Masters degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Technical Expertise: Experience in one or more of the following areas: polymer chemistry, analytical chemistry, materials process development, testing capability development, materials characterisation (in particular surfaces or interfaces characterisation) or mechanical testing.

In terms of interpersonal skills that we’ll look for when we engage with you at interview; We’re a collaborative bunch who love to solve problems, innovate and we work with a wide range of clients/stakeholders. You’ll need to be comfortable communicating with arrange of people and have that collaborative mindset.

What do we offer in return?

Hybrid working as standard. Annual salary reviews, company paid private medical insurance, up to 12.5% employer pension contribution, great people, honorary staff status at the University of Bristol. With a genuine focus on wellbeing, EDI and learning and development this is a chance to build your career in a thriving R&D facility with a bright future.

Who are NCC?

NCC is a world‑leading innovation organisation that turns cutting‑edge research and technology into industrial impact.

What we do

We help manufacturers take on bigger challenges - whether that’s building cleaner aircraft, scaling up offshore wind, or strengthening the UK’s supply chains. We’re here to deliver practical outcomes, not prototypes that sit on shelves.

Who we work with

We work across 16 sectors, from defence and energy to infrastructure and space. Some projects are with global tier 1s, others with small UK firms solving one specific problem - the works always varied, and always real.

What it’s like here

We’re not a startup. We’re not a corporate. We’re a national centre with the kit, time and people to do the job properly. The teams are focused, the thinking is sharp, and you’ll be trusted to get on with it.

Why this job matters

This role isn’t just internal support - it’s part of how we deliver nationally important work. If we do our job right, the UK’s manufacturers can do theirs better.

We ensure that all hiring decisions are made without regard to age, race, national origin, sex, disability, gender, gender identity, religion, or any other protected characteristics, and will treat all applications with the strictest confidence. We’re always open to hearing how we can support flexible working in different ways, including part‑time work. Please don’t be afraid to ask about what we can do to support your needs including alternative ways to apply.