Materials Scientist – Global Manufacturing (Remote Support)

Saffil Limited; Widnes; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Alkegen seeks a Materials Scientist to ensure operational efficiency, stability and material consistency of polycrystalline wool manufacturing. You will understand and optimise materials from raw chemicals through formulation, processing, and passage along the line, building strong technical relationships with raw material suppliers.

Based at the Widnes site with ~20% travel to Buffalo, USA, you will collaborate with plant management, QA and engineering to improve yield, reduce waste, and ensure

Qualifications

• Degree in Materials Science, Ceramic Engineering, or related discipline.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with manufacturing focus.
• Excellent communication skills with operators, engineers, suppliers and management.
• Experience in a manufacturing or industrial materials environment.

Responsibilities

• Understand all incoming raw materials: composition, impurities, properties, supplier variations.
• Build strong relationships with key raw material suppliers and act as technical interface.
• Define material specifications, acceptance criteria and incoming quality controls.
• Optimize formulations and recipes to balance performance and cost.
• Lead investigations on raw material changes and their impact on process and product.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing for stable, repeatable production of polycrystalline wool.
• Analyse process variability across material lifecycle and implement improvements.
• Coordinate with production, engineering and quality teams to resolve material/process issues.
• Document knowledge to support standardisation and best practices.
• Support training and capability development within manufacturing and technical teams.
• Provide onsite and remote support to Buffalo, USA facility (approx. 20%).
• Travel to Buffalo for onsite support with Pirson team.

Skills

Coaching

Problem Solving

Project Management

Teamwork

Change Management

Innovation

Drive

Communication

Education

BSc minimum in Materials Science/Related

Job description

Alkegen seeks a Materials Scientist to ensure operational efficiency, stability and material consistency of polycrystalline wool manufacturing. You will understand and optimise materials from raw chemicals through formulation, processing, and passage along the line, building strong technical relationships with raw material suppliers.

Based at the Widnes site with ~20% travel to Buffalo, USA, you will collaborate with plant management, QA and engineering to improve yield, reduce waste, and ensure