Material Scientist

alkegen; Widnes; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Alkegen is seeking a Materials Scientist to ensure operational efficiency, stability, and material consistency in polycrystalline wool manufacturing. You will develop deep knowledge of raw materials, manage supplier relationships, and optimise formulations to improve yield and product quality.

Based at the Widnes site with some travel to the Buffalo, USA facility, the role involves close collaboration with production, engineering, and quality teams to implement robust material specifications and

Qualifications

• Degree (BSc minimum; MSc/PhD preferred) in Materials Science or related field.
• Strong grounding in inorganic materials, ceramics, fibres, or high-temperature materials.
• Experience working in a manufacturing or industrial materials environment.
• Proven hands-on experience with materials processing and quality control.

Responsibilities

• Develop deep understanding of incoming raw materials, their composition and supplier variations.
• Build relationships with key raw material suppliers.
• Interface between company and suppliers on material chemistry, changes, and innovation.
• Work with suppliers to understand process windows, production routes, and sources of variability.
• Support supplier audits, technical reviews, and joint improvement initiatives.
• Establish and maintain material specifications, acceptance criteria, and incoming quality controls.
• Optimize formulations and recipes to balance performance and cost in batch production.
• Lead investigations into raw material changes and their impact on process behaviour and final product performance.
• Provide day to day technical support to manufacturing operations to ensure stable production of polycrystalline wool.
• Analyse and troubleshoot process variability across the material lifecycle.
• Identify and implement improvements to operational efficiency, yield, waste reduction, and process capability.
• Work closely with production, engineering, and quality teams to resolve material and process issues.
• Capture and document material and process knowledge to support standardisation and best practice.
• Develop technical guidelines, control plans, and troubleshooting tools for operations.
• Support training and capability development within manufacturing and technical teams.
• Provide onsite and remote support to the Buffalo facility (~20% of time).
• Ensure alignment of material control strategies between UK and US operations.
• Support cross-site consistency, benchmarking, and knowledge transfer.

Skills

Materials science knowledge

Manufacturing environment experience

Education

BSc in Materials Science (or related)

Job description

Job Requirements

Why work for us?

Alkegen brings together two of the world's leading specialty materials companies to create one new, innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation and sealing materials. Through global reach and breakthrough inventions, we are delivering products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before.

With over 60 manufacturing facilities with a global workforce of over 9,000 of the industry's most experienced talent, including insulation and filtration experts, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways.

Alkegen offers a range of dynamic career opportunities with a global reach. From production operators to engineers, technicians to specialists, sales to leadership, we are always looking for top talent ready to bring their best. Come grow with us!

Purpose of Position

The Materials Scientist will play a critical role in ensuring the operational efficiency, stability, and material consistency of polycrystalline wool manufacturing operations. The role is focused on understanding, controlling, and optimising materials from incoming raw chemicals through formulation, processing, and successful passage through the manufacturing line. A key aspect of the role is developing strong technical relationships with raw material suppliers to gain deep insight into material chemistry, variability, and control strategies, with the objective of improving process robustness, product quality, and yield.

Nature and Scope

This position reports to the Senior Plant Manager. Works frequently and closely with all of the Plant Management team to meet the needs of the organization in terms of product technical quality and stability. The position will be based mainly at the Widnes manufacturing site, UK with regular remote support and travel when required to the sister plant in Buffalo, USA when required comprising approximately 10% of the role.

Major Job Functions and Tasks

• Develop a deep understanding of all incoming raw materials, including chemical composition, impurities, physical properties, and supplier-specific variations.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with key raw material suppliers.
• Act as the technical interface between the company and suppliers on material chemistry, consistency, change management, and innovation.
• Work with suppliers to understand process windows, production routes, and sources of variability.
• Support supplier audits, technical reviews, and joint improvement initiatives.
• Establish and maintain robust material specifications, acceptance criteria, and incoming quality controls.
• Optimise formulations and recipes to balance performance and cost monitoring plant batch production.
• Lead investigations into raw material changes and their impact on process behaviour and final product performance.
• Provide day to day technical support to manufacturing operations to ensure stable, repeatable production of polycrystalline wool through chemical batch process and continuous fibre formation.
• Analyse and troubleshoot process variability across the full material lifecycle: incoming raw materials, recipes, batching, fibre formation, and downstream processing.
• Identify and implement improvements to operational efficiency, yield, waste reduction, and process capability.
• Work closely with production, engineering, and quality teams to resolve material and process related issues.
• Capture and document material and process knowledge to support standardisation and best practice.
• Develop technical guidelines, control plans, and troubleshooting tools for use by operations teams.
• Support training and capability development within manufacturing and technical teams.
• Provide combined onsite and remote technical support to the Buffalo, USA manufacturing facility (~20% of time). Periodic travel will be required to Buffalo for on site support with the Pirson team.
• Ensure alignment of material control strategies, specifications, and best practices between UK and US operations.
• Support cross-site consistency, benchmarking, and knowledge transfer.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Needed

• Degree (BSc minimum, MSc or PhD preferred) in Materials Science, Ceramic Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Strong grounding in inorganic materials, ceramics, fibres, or high-temperature materials.
• Experience working in a manufacturing or industrial materials environment.
• Proven hands‑…

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