Materials Engineer

Rivan Industries; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Share options

Relocation support

Relocation stipend

Private health insurance

Unlimited time off

On-site HQ Bermondsey

Job summary

Rivan Industries is seeking a Materials Scientist to own materials selection, testing and failure analysis across our direct air capture system. This role focuses on high-temperature kilns and lime-processing equipment, encompassing refractories, ceramics, coatings and related materials.

You will break problems down from first principles, define tests and translate results into clear engineering decisions. The position is hands-on, collaborating with process, mechanical, electrical and

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of high-temperature materials and ceramics.
• Experience with kilns and lime-processing equipment.
• Ability to lead workstreams from vague problems to recommendations.
• Define practical validation tests and interpret material data.
• Clear written technical recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Own materials selection for our direct air capture system across high-temperature processes.
• Lead testing and failure analysis initiatives for refractories, coatings, and sorbent-contacting materials.
• Define tests, analyse results and turn them into actionable engineering decisions.
• Collaborate with process, mechanical, electrical and operations teams to ensure materials survive operating conditions and scale.

Skills

High-temp materials

Kilns systems

Lead technical workstreams

Validation testing

First-principles reasoning

Root cause analysis

Supplier engagement

Cost & scale-up

Concise communication

Tools

XRD

SEM/EDS

XRF

Microscopy

TGA/DSC

FactSage

Thermo-Calc

CALPHAD

Job description

We are looking for a Materials Scientist to own materials selection, testing and failure analysis across our direct air capture system.

The role will be heavily focused on our high-temperature kiln and lime-processing equipment. You will work on refractories, ceramics, heating elements, coatings, metals, alloys and sorbent-contacting materials.

You will be expected to take unclear materials problems, break them down from first principles, define the right tests, analyse the results, and turn them into clear engineering decisions.

This is a hands‑on engineering role, not a purely academic one. You will work closely with process, mechanical, electrical and operations teams to make sure the materials we choose survive real operating conditions and can scale.

Core Skills

• Strong understanding of high-temperature materials, ceramics, refractories, corrosion, sintering, thermal shock and chemical compatibility.
• Experience working with kilns, furnaces, lime, cement, ceramics, glass, thermochemical processing or similarly harsh high-temperature systems.
• Ability to independently lead technical workstreams from a poorly defined problem to a clear recommendation.
• Ability to define practical validation tests and interpret materials characterisation data.
• Strong first-principles reasoning.
• You should be able to look at a failed component, deposit, coating or refractory and work out what evidence is needed to understand the failure.
• Comfortable engaging with suppliers, consultants, manufacturers and research organisations.
• Able to balance performance, cost, lead time, manufacturability, reliability and scale‑up risk.
• Clear written communication. We need concise technical recommendations, not open‑ended reports.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with refractory selection, installation methods, coatings or hot‑face materials.
• Experience with SiC heating elements, protective glazes, electric furnaces or high-temperature heating systems.
• Experience with lime, cement, calcination, carbonation, sorbents or thermochemical cycling.
• Experience with XRD, SEM/EDS, XRF, microscopy, TGA/DSC or other materials characterisation techniques.
• Experience with equilibrium modelling or phase chemistry tools such as FactSage, Thermo-Calc, HSC Chemistry, CALPHAD or similar.
• Experience taking materials decisions from lab testing through to pilot or production hardware.
• A PhD or postdoc in materials science, ceramics, metallurgy, chemical engineering or a related field would be valuable, but is not required.
• We care more about capability than credentials.

Specifics:

• £60-90k salary depending on experience
• Share options as part of the early team
• Extensive relocation support, including £6,000 per year extra to live close to our HQ
• In-person work at our HQ in Bermondsey, South-East London – flexibility considered based on personal circumstances
• Private health insurance
• Unlimited time off