Materials Engineer – High-Temp Ceramics & Refractories

IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining); Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

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Job summary

IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining) seeks a Materials Engineer to own materials selection, testing and failure analysis for our direct air capture system. The role focuses on high-temperature kilns and lime-processing equipment, covering refractories, ceramics, heating elements, coatings, and materials across metals, sorbents, and alloys.

You will break down unclear problems from first principles, define tests, analyse results, and translate findings into clear engineering

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of high-temperature materials, ceramics, refractories, corrosion, sintering, thermal shock and chemical compatibility.
• Experience 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 - diagnose failures from evidence.
• Comfortable engaging with suppliers, consultants, manufacturers and research organisations.

Responsibilities

• Own materials selection, testing and failure analysis across the direct air capture system.
• Lead technical workstreams from problem to recommendation.
• Define tests, analyse results and turn into clear engineering decisions.
• Work with process, mechanical, electrical and operations teams to ensure materials survive operating conditions and scale.

Skills

High-temperature materials

Ceramics & refractories

Materials failure analysis

First-principles reasoning

Materials validation testing

Cross-functional collaboration

Written technical communication

Education

PhD or postdoc (valuable)

Tools

XRD

SEM/EDS

XRF

Microscopy

TGA/DSC

Job description

IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining) seeks a Materials Engineer to own materials selection, testing and failure analysis for our direct air capture system. The role focuses on high-temperature kilns and lime-processing equipment, covering refractories, ceramics, heating elements, coatings, and materials across metals, sorbents, and alloys.

You will break down unclear problems from first principles, define tests, analyse results, and translate findings into clear engineering