Materials and Analytical Scientist

Atomic Weapons Establishment; Reading; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the defense sector is seeking a Materials and Analytical Scientist to join their Conventional Materials Science Group. The role involves hands-on chemistry experiments, developing polymeric materials for manufacturing processes, and collaborating with stakeholders. The successful candidate will have a strong background in chemistry and materials science, and enjoy working in a dynamic lab environment.

Benefits

9-day working fortnight

Market leading pension scheme

Family friendly policies

Professional Career Development

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance

Discounts on everyday spending

Special Leave Policy

Qualifications

• Degree in chemistry or related field required.
• Knowledge of organic and polymer materials science is essential.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, analyze, and assess samples using agreed procedures.
• Develop knowledge in a particular scientific field and share best practices.

Skills

organic chemistry

polymer materials science

laboratory experience

report writing

Education

Degree in chemistry

Degree in materials science

Degree in natural science

Tools

rheology

thermal analysis

mechanical testing

Job description

Materials and Analytical Scientist page is loaded

Materials and Analytical Scientist

Apply locations Reading area time type Full time posted on Posted 6 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: May 21, 2025 (7 days left to apply) job requisition id R24128

If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.

Materials and Analytical Scientist

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Package: £29,490 - £31,000 ( depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

Let us introduce the role

AWE is currently recruiting for Materials and Analytical Scientists within Conventional Materials Science Group supporting their Organic Materials Development Team. The team focuses on the development and testing of polymeric materials for adhesives, potting’s, resins, encapsulants, and inks for Direct-Ink-Write Additive Manufacturing.

This role is ideally suited to a Polymer Chemist or Materials Scientist who enjoys hands-on chemistry experiments and has an interest in the design of experiments and analysis of results.

Working within the Conventional Materials Science Group the successful candidate will be required to work with stakeholders and customers across the business to develop and test materials that meet their requirements. Furthermore, this role will allow you to work with many of our external partners across the UK and US, and occasionally, you will be required to travel to these sites to meet our stakeholders.

Although the role is predominantly lab based and on site, where possible, you will also be allowed to work from home to carry out training, data analysis, and writing up of reports and presentations.

Who are we looking for?

We would be interested in hearing from candidates who can demonstrate knowledge or experience in some of the following:

• Degree (or equivalent) chemistry, materials science, natural science or similar
• Knowledge of general organic and polymer materials science, or organic chemistry
• Working knowledge of UK REACH
• Basic laboratory experience
• Knowledge of techniques such as rheology, thermal analysis and mechanical testing, etc
• Knowledge of safety paperwork including COSHH, risk and manual handling assessments
• Good standard of report writing

Successful candidates will typically be responsible for the following:

• Prepare, analyse, characterise and assess samples using agreed procedures and processes
• Produce documentation to communicate projects
• Develop knowledge in a particular scientific or product field and share best practice.
• Assistance with COSHH Assessor; Risk Assessor; Manual Handling Assessor
• Lead technical programmes (dependent on prior experience)

You’ll need to have the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority changing environment and be able to manage your own workload. You will also have initiative, enthusiasm, a flexible approach, and ability to work to tight deadlines.

Please note that the interviews will take place during the week commencing 2nd of June 2025. If you are unavailable on these dates, please inform us, and we will do our best to accommodate alternative arrangements where feasible.

Some reasons we think you’ll love it here:

AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
• Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

Due to the classified nature of the work involved, there are limited opportunities to work from home in this role. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE Aldermaston.

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Next steps:

Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.

Important things you need to know:

• We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes.
• You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.
• We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
• Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.

About AWE

If you’re looking for a role with excitement, intrigue and something that really makes a difference then now is the time to join AWE. We are at the start of a once in a generation – possibly two generations – programme to design and produce a replacement warhead for the UK’s continuous at sea deterrent. We will do this while continuing to deliver the Trident programme as well as managing ambitious state-of-the-art capital and construction projects – some of which have never been done before. Find out more on ourwebsite .

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