Energetic Materials Scientist – Chemist

BAE Systems; Pontypool; On-site; GBP 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense and aerospace company in the United Kingdom is seeking an Energetic Materials Scientist - Chemist to develop the next generation of polymer bonded explosives. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in Chemistry or a Master's with relevant experience, and will work on innovative projects within the Energetics Team. The role offers a competitive salary of up to £43,649, along with various benefits including a pension scheme and flexible working options.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Enhanced annual leave allowance

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working

Cycle2work

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Recognised qualification in Chemistry, preferably to PhD level.
• Keen desire to carry out practical activities for projects.
• Ability to present data clearly and produce high-quality scientific documents.

Responsibilities

• Develop the next generation of polymer bonded explosives (PBXs).
• Maintain and improve small-scale processing capability.
• Interact with products to understand challenges in processing.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Chemical kinetics

Catalysis

Energetic materials

Strong communication skills

Education

PhD in Chemistry

Masters in Chemistry with relevant experience

Job description

Overview

Job title: Energetic Materials Scientist - Chemist

Location: Glascoed (Monday to Thursday, 7.15am – 5pm)

Salary: Up to £43,649

Responsibilities

• Working with Senior Scientist and Team to develop the next generation of polymer bonded explosives (PBXs); leading and organising own project – undertaking research, developing formulations expertise and carrying out manufacturing and characterisation trials
• Supporting the Senior Scientist in maintaining and continuously improving a small-scale processing capability within the Energetics Team
• Interacting with products and processes throughout the factory to understand the challenges presented by energetic materials in process. Developing strategies to overcome these challenges and implementing them to benefit the business
• Supporting business winning and project planning activities by compiling technical input during the bid preparation phase
• Supporting the Senior Scientist and working with other Scientists and Engineers, both within and outside of the team, to achieve goals
• Ensuring all processing activities are carried out safely and in accordance with business processes and in compliance with legislation
• Continuing professional development of self, by identifying and addressing development needs through the PDR process and contributing to papers and presentations at symposia, whilst participating in external working groups with industry, academia and government

Your skills and experiences

• A recognised qualification in Chemistry, preferably to PhD level, but Masters with relevant experience shall be considered
• Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas: Polymer chemistry, chemical kinetics, catalysis, energetic materials
• A keen desire to carry out practical activities for own and others’ projects
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present data in a clear, concise manner and to produce scientific documents to a high standard

Benefits

You’ll receive benefits including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and a Company contributed Share Incentive Plan. You’ll also have access to additional benefits such as flexible working, an employee assistance programme, Cycle2work and employee discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Research and Development team

BAE Systems Land UK have an opportunity for a Chemist to join the Research and Development team at the Glascoed Site. The selected candidate should have a keen interest in developing new polymer systems and bring knowledge in tailoring polymeric systems to meet specific safety and performance requirements.

As a Chemist, you will be responsible for generating ideas, concepts and proposals in the field of Polymer Bonded Explosives (PBXs) for assessment through the business innovation channels. You will carry out and apply fundamental research in the energetic materials and manufacturing technology domain, ensuring the business remains at the forefront of technical developments through engagement with experts in industry, academia and government. Additional responsibilities include compiling and maintaining Safe Systems of Work and assisting with day-to-day Team activities, if and when required by the business, to help progress other projects and / or maintain facilities.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 12th November 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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