Material Science & Manufacturing Development Manager

CMD Recruitment; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing firm in Chippenham is looking for a Materials Science & Manufacturing Development Manager to enhance their Technical Services team. This role involves developing and optimizing manufacturing processes and leading R&D projects in a dynamic environment. Ideal candidates should have a degree in a relevant field and experience in manufacturing or process development. Join a forward-thinking organization that values innovation and continuous improvement, offering a salary between £45-55K.

Benefits

Collaborative working environment

Ownership of high-impact projects

Involvement in advanced manufacturing operations

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a manufacturing or R&D environment.
• Strong attention to detail and scientific rigor is essential.
• Familiarity with CAD software is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and improve manufacturing processes across production areas.
• Lead projects from concept through to implementation.
• Provide technical guidance and support for New Product Development.

Skills

Analytical capability

Process-focused mindset

Confident communicator

Education

Degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Chemistry, or related

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Materials Science & Manufacturing Development Manager

Resides - Chippenham

Permanent | Full-Time

Salary £45-55K DOE plus benefits

We are pleased to be partnering with an innovative and highly specialised manufacturing business based in Calne, who are seeking a Materials Science & Manufacturing Development Manager to join their Technical Services team.

This is a key role for a technically capable scientist or engineer who enjoys working in a hands‑on manufacturing environment and is motivated by driving research, development, process optimisation, and continuous improvement across complex manufacturing operations.

The Role

You will play a central role in developing, optimising, and supporting a range of advanced manufacturing processes within the business. Taking ownership of development and improvement initiatives, you will work closely with Production, Quality, and Operations teams to ensure manufacturing processes are robust, scalable, and aligned with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimise, and improve manufacturing processes across multiple production areas
• Lead R&D and process development projects from initial concept through to implementation
• Support capital investment projects, including equipment selection, layout planning, configuration, and performance definition
• Define quality control criteria, design experiments, and develop analytical or testing methods as required
• Investigate and resolve process and quality issues using structured root cause analysis
• Apply materials science and metallurgical principles to support manufacturing performance
• Support New Product Development (NPD) activities and assist with product launches
• Provide technical guidance, coaching, and training to operational teams
• Work closely with Quality to define, track, and report performance metrics
• Champion a proactive culture of continuous improvement, including lean and best-practice methodologies

About You

Essential:

• Degree (or equivalent) in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline
• At least 2 years' experience in a manufacturing, R&D, or process development environment
• Strong process-focused mindset with experience working to documented procedures
• High level of analytical capability, scientific rigidity, and attention to detail
• Confident communicator with a collaborative approach
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications

Desirable:

• Experience in a regulated, high-precision, or technology-driven manufacturing environment
• Understanding of applied chemistry or materials processing
• Basic familiarity with CAD software or technical drawings

Why Join?

• Join a technically advanced and forward-thinking manufacturing organisation
• High-impact role with genuine ownership of development and improvement projects
• Collaborative working environment with strong cross‑functional engagement