Characterisation Specialist

Amentum; Risley; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Hybrid/flexible hours

Parental leave pay

Professional development

Employee assistance

Job summary

Amentum in Birchwood laboratory seeks a Characterisation Specialist to join the growing team. You will gain hands-on experience with metallographic preparation, microscopy, and materials analysis to support nuclear materials testing programmes across the UK.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant science, practical lab skills, and a meticulous approach to quality. Hybrid/flexible working arrangements are available within a collaborative scientific environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Practical experience of metallographic preparation: cutting, grinding, polishing.
• Experience using optical microscopy for materials characterisation.
• Knowledge of specimen inspection techniques and quality evaluation.
• Strong practical laboratory skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support materials, corrosion and mechanical testing programmes with high-quality characterisation data.
• Prepare metallic specimens through cutting, mounting, grinding, polishing and etching.
• Conduct metallographic investigations using optical microscopy and related techniques.
• Perform specimen inspection activities including dimensional measurements and hardness testing.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, records and documentation to high standards of quality and traceability.
• Work safely within lab and quality systems and contribute to continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers and technicians on diverse projects.

Skills

Metallographic prep

Optical microscopy

Specimen inspection

Lab safety & quality

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science/Metallurgy/Engineering/Physics

Tools

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Job description

At Amentum, we're not just solving problems; we're engineering the future. Our team is driven by an unyielding commitment to innovation, integrity, and collaboration, tackling some of the most significant challenges in science, security, and sustainability. If you're passionate about making a real impact and want to be part of a community that values ethical excellence, this is the place where your ambition can thrive.

Here, we believe that success comes from continuously pushing boundaries and working together to deliver on our promises. We embrace challenges with confidence and are dedicated to creating a secure and vibrant future for all.

We’ll inspire and empower you to deliver your best work so you can evolve, grow and succeed – today and into tomorrow. We offer an exciting range of opportunities to develop your career within a supportive team who always strive to do the right thing for our people, clients and communities.

People are our greatest asset, and we offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent.

In addition to the benefits you’d expect, UK employees also receive free single medical cover and digital GP service, family-friendly benefits such as enhanced parental leave pay and free membership of employee assistance and parental programmes, plus reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships. Work-life balance and flexibility is a key focus area for us. We’re happy to discuss hybrid, part-time and flexible working hours, patterns and locations to suit you and our business. Career development is also offered.

About the Opportunity

Science, Testing & Experimentation (ST&E) is part of Amentum Clean Energy, a global leader in engineering, project delivery, and technical solutions. At our Birchwood laboratory, we develop and deliver advanced materials testing programmes that generate critical data used to support major decisions across the UK nuclear industry.

Our work helps enable the safe operation, life extension, and future development of nuclear power generation. To achieve this, we rely on talented technicians, engineers, and scientists who are passionate about solving complex challenges and making a tangible impact.

We are seeking a Characterisation Specialist to join our growing Characterisation Team. This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands‑on experience with a wide range of metallurgical preparation and characterisation techniques, working on projects that directly support innovative research and nationally important engineering programmes.

The Characterisation Team provides specialist support to materials, mechanical testing, and corrosion programmes across ST&E through metallographic preparation, microscopy, specimen inspection, and materials analysis.

Whether you already have experience in a materials testing laboratory or are looking to build upon a strong technical foundation, we are interested in hearing from individuals who are curious, proactive, and keen to develop their skills in a collaborative scientific environment.

What You'll Be Doing

• Supporting materials, corrosion, and mechanical testing programmes through the provision of high-quality characterisation data by:
• Preparing metallic specimens for examination through cutting, mounting, grinding, polishing, and etching.
• Conducting metallographic investigations using optical microscopy and associated characterisation techniques.
• Performing specimen inspection activities, including dimensional measurements, surface roughness measurements, and hardness testing
• Maintaining laboratory equipment, records, and documentation to the highest standards of quality and traceability.
• Working safely within laboratory and quality management systems while contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborating with scientists, engineers, and technicians across a broad range of technically challenging projects.

Here’s What You’ll Need ;

• A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification/experience) in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Engineering, Physics, or another relevant scientific discipline.
• Practical experience of metallographic preparation techniques, including cutting, grinding, and polishing metallic samples.
• Experience using optical microscopy for materials characterisation.
• Knowledge of specimen inspection techniques, such as dimensional assessment, hardness testing, and general quality evaluation.
• Strong practical laboratory skills and enthusiasm for hands‑on technical work.
• A meticulous approach to quality, attention to detail, and record keeping.
• A strong commitment to safety and safe working practices.

Desirable

• Experience of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
• Experience working within a materials testing, research, manufacturing, or engineering laboratory environment.
• Familiarity with metallurgical analysis and interpretation of microstructures.
• Knowledge of quality management systems and laboratory best practice.

Our Culture:

Our values are built on a strong foundation of safety, integrity, and respect for every individual. People are at the heart of our mission, and we believe in supporting one another through a culture of care and collaboration.

We strive to create a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. Supporting mental wellbeing and fostering a sense of connection are essential to how we work.

When we embrace different perspectives and work together, we become more innovative, more agile, and more successful.

We partner with VERCIDA, for greater online accessibility please visit www.vercida.com (www.vercida.com%20) to view and access our roles. As a Disability Confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the Team.