Chemist

Vateris; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Vateris is seeking a highly capable Senior Chemist to join our technical team, driving chemistry from laboratory development into robust industrial processes at scale in Nottingham.

You will lead process development, design experiments, troubleshoot, and work closely with engineers to translate lab results into repeatable, scalable production capabilities using techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDS, and GC-MS.

Experience with startup/scale-up environments and TRL 5+ is highly preferred.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry or closely related field with 5+ years industrial experience.
• Experience taking chemistry to TRL 5+ and pilot-scale processes.
• Strong hands-on analytical skills with listed techniques.
• Experience in startup/scale-up R&D preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead chemistry and process development from lab to pilot scale.
• Design experiments to optimise conditions, crystallisation, yield and process repeatability.
• Troubleshoot chemistry and process issues and perform structured root-cause analysis.
• Translate laboratory results into repeatable, scalable industrial processes.
• Develop analytical methods, specifications, SOPs and quality-control procedures.
• Characterise materials and interpret results using FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDS, BET, TGA/DSC, GC-MS.
• Work closely with chemical engineers and process engineers during scale-up.

Skills

Lab process design

Data interpretation

Troubleshooting

Scale-up

Analytical methods

Education

PhD in Chemistry or related field

Tools

FTIR

XRD

SEM/EDS

BET

TGA/DSC

GC-MS

Job description

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

Company: Vateris

The Role

We are looking for a highly capable, hands‑on Senior Chemist to join our technical team and help scale our chemistry from laboratory development into robust industrial processes.

This is an applied industrial role for someone who enjoys solving difficult chemistry problems, working directly with pilot‑scale equipment and using analytical data to drive process development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead chemistry and process development from laboratory through TRL 5+ and pilot scale.
• Design and execute experiments to optimise reaction conditions, crystallisation, product quality, yield and process repeatability.
• Troubleshoot chemistry and process issues and perform structured root‑cause analysis.
• Translate laboratory results into repeatable, scalable industrial processes.
• Develop analytical methods, specifications, SOPs and quality‑control procedures.
• Characterise materials and interpret results using techniques including FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDS, BET, TGA/DSC, calorimetry and GC‑MS.
• Work closely with chemical engineers, process engineers and the wider technical team during scale-up.

Candidate Profile

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Strong academic background from a leading university or equivalent research institution. Candidates from universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Leeds and Sheffield, or comparably strong international institutions, are particularly relevant.
• 5+ years of relevant industrial experience following the PhD.
• Experience working within a startup, scale‑up, advanced materials or industrial R&D environment is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrable experience progressing technology beyond laboratory research toward TRL 5+, pilot or demonstration scale.
• Strong hands‑on analytical experience with several of the following:
• FTIR
• XRD
• SEM/EDS
• BET
• TGA/DSC
• GC‑MS
• Strong capability in experimental design, process optimisation, troubleshooting and data interpretation.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑moving environment where priorities are driven by achieving industrial scale.

What We Are Looking For

We are particularly interested in scientists who have moved beyond purely academic research and can demonstrate that they have turned chemistry into a reliable, repeatable and scalable process.

The successful candidate should be equally comfortable designing an experiment, interpreting analytical data, troubleshooting a failed process and working alongside engineers to make the chemistry operate at larger scale.