Laboratory Technician

UCR Group; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ownership from day one

Shape division

Career paths

Job summary

UCR Group's Materials Innovation Division in Southampton is seeking a Laboratory Technician to help establish the lab's day-to-day operations, safety systems, equipment and supplier relationships.

This early-career role offers broad practical experience across the business, with potential progression into procurement, technical projects supporting R&D, scale-up, or eventual lab management as the division grows.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of COSHH and risk assessment procedures.
• Hands-on laboratory experience and familiarity with lab safety practices.
• Organised, collaborative and able to learn and grow in a lab setting.

Responsibilities

• Keep lab space, instruments and workflows in good working order to support ongoing R&D activity.
• Write and maintain SOPs, equipment records, calibration documentation, and assist with sourcing new instruments as the lab grows.
• Maintain core lab safety and compliance, including COSHH and risk assessments, labelling, and PPE.
• Act as the day-to-day point of contact for suppliers, placing orders, tracking deliveries, and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Work with the wider business to build new systems and processes as the division grows.
• Build and maintain the chemicals and consumables database, inventory, and supplier documentation (SDS/TDS).

Skills

COSHH

Risk assessments

Lab experience

Organised

Collaborative

Communicates effectively

Keen to learn

Education

Degree in Materials Science or Chemistry

HNC/HND or apprenticeship route

Job description

UCR Group / Materials Innovation Division

Laboratory Technician

UCR Group's Materials Innovation Division is newly established, and we are seeking a Laboratory Technician to support its development.

This role will help to establish the operational foundations the lab will run on, covering safety systems, equipment, processes, inventory, and supplier relationships. It is an early career opportunity suited to someone in the first stages of their laboratory career who is looking to build broad practical experience. Because the division is at an early stage, the scope is wide, and you will gain exposure across the business, with the role developing as the division grows. Over time, there is scope to move towards procurement and supply chain, technical projects supporting R&D, scale-up, or into lab management.

You will report to the Innovation Research Scientist and work closely with the wider UCR Group. As an early-stage division, we can offer real responsibility from the start, alongside structured support.

Location

Southampton, UK

Reference

MatD2603

22/10/2026
Advert may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found.

Key responsibilities

• Keep the lab space, instruments, and workflows in good working order to support ongoing R&D activity.
• Write and maintain SOPs, equipment records, and calibration documentation, and assist with sourcing new instruments as the lab grows.
• Maintain core lab safety and compliance, including COSHH and risk assessments, labelling, and PPE.
• Act as the day-to-day point of contact for suppliers, placing orders, tracking deliveries, and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Work with the wider business to build new systems and processes as the division grows.
• Build and maintain the chemicals and consumables database, inventory, and supplier documentation (SDS/TDS).

About you

• A degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related subject, or equivalent hands-on lab experience via HNC/HND or an apprenticeship route.
• Practical experience of health and safety in a lab: COSHH and risk assessments, safe handling and storage of chemicals, waste disposal.
• Organised, collaborative, communicates effectively, and keen to learn and grow in the role.
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, the Southampton area.
• Right to work in the UK. We're unable to offer visa sponsorship.

What we offer

• A supportive and collaborative environment and ownership from day one
• Opportunity to be an integral part of shaping the Materials Innovation Division
• A role that grows as the division does, with routes into procurement, technical project work or lab management.

About UCR Group

Universal Collaboration Research (UCR) Group is a UK-based developer of energy technologies and advanced materials. UCR's work sits at the intersection of advanced power engineering, materials science, plasma technologies and industrial decarbonisation, taking on the problems where conventional approaches are reaching their limits. The objective is to develop engineering architectures capable of delivering meaningful gains in energy efficiency, system resilience, material performance and industrial sustainability. UCR's work is led by two key divisions.

Electronics and Energy Technology Division

Develops circuit-level solutions addressing how power is generated, stored, and transferred: using less, losing less, and drawing more from the power available. UCR's Inductive Capacitor Device reduces energy consumption in electrolytic processes by more than 60%, with applications including Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation. The division works to embed new solutions into applications across renewable energy, energy storage, electrification, and advanced manufacturing.

Materials Innovation Division

Focuses on developing and proving new solutions for coating and surface engineering applications. Building on UCR's advanced low-energy Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) and other plasma processes, the division is extending it into novel coatings and new capabilities, enabling materials innovation for harsh environments across aerospace, hydrogen production, energy, and industrial manufacturing.

Programmes are run via a collaborative model with universities, research organisations, industrial partners and other key stakeholders.

Equal opportunities and accessibility. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. All candidates are assessed on their skills and potential, regardless of any protected characteristic. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please contact [e-mail] to discuss your requirements.