Materials Scientist Polymer Processing

Chemistry for Sustainability; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution

25 days annual leave

Office and lab facilities

Job summary

Phast is seeking a Materials Scientist to lead the development and scale-up of bio-based polymer formulations and processing from lab concepts to industrial manufacture. The role focuses on extrusion, compounding and polymer characterisation in a hands-on environment.

You will work at the interface of materials science and manufacturing, taking ownership of formulation development and processing optimisation. Expect travels within the UK/EU up to 10%.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Polymer Chemistry or related discipline
• Industrial experience developing polymer formulations
• Experience operating twin-screw compounders
• Strong understanding of polymer processing principles
• Experience with thermoplastics processing
• Experience with reactive extrusion techniques (e.g., grafting, chain modification, compatibilisation)
• Knowledge of polymer additives and their functions
• Experience analysing mechanical and thermal properties of polymers
• Ability to independently design and execute experiments; strong problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Design and develop new polymer formulations based on bio-based and biodegradable polymers
• Operate and optimise twin-screw extrusion process
• Develop compounding recipes using fillers, fibers, plasticisers and functional additives
• Scale formulations from laboratory to pilot and manufacturing scale
• Process materials using extrusion and, where appropriate, other forming processes
• Characterise polymers using mechanical, thermal and rheological techniques
• Interpret material data to guide formulation improvements
• Collaborate with partners and equipment manufacturers during development
• Maintain laboratory equipment and ensure high-quality records
• Support grant-funded R&D programmes and collaborative projects
• Travel within UK/EU up to 10% of the time

Skills

Twin-screw extrusion

Polymer processing

Reactive extrusion

Polymer additives

Mechanical properties

Thermal analysis

Experiment design

Problem solving

Verbal communication

Written communication

Education

MSc or PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Polymer Chemistry or related

Job description

Materials Scientist – Polymer Processing £35,000–£45,000 (DOE) | Sheffield, UK | Full-time, Permanent

Join us in developing the next generation of sustainable materials.

Phast is an innovative materials company developing advanced bio-based polymers for high performance applications. Our mission is to replace conventional fossil-based plastics with sustainable alternatives without compromising performance.

We're looking for an experienced Materials Scientist to lead the development and scale-up of novel polymer formulations and processing from laboratory concept through to industrial manufacture. This is a hands‑on role suited to someone who enjoys solving complex processing challenges and working with extrusion, compounding and polymer characterisation.

This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the development of entirely new material platforms that will be commercialised internationally.

The Role

You will work at the interface of materials science, polymer engineering and manufacturing, taking ownership of formulation development and processing optimisation. Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing and developing new polymer formulations based on bio‑based and biodegradable polymers
• Operating and optimising twin‑screw extrusion process
• Developing compounding recipes using fillers, fibers, plasticisers, impact modifiers and functional additives
• Scaling formulations from laboratory to pilot and manufacturing scale
• Processing materials using extrusion and, where appropriate: injection moulding, compression moulding, thermoforming, film extrusion and filament production
• Characterising polymers using mechanical, thermal and rheological techniques
• Interpreting material data to guide formulation improvements
• Working closely with commercial partners and equipment manufacturers during process development
• Maintaining laboratory equipment and ensuring high quality experimental records
• Supporting intellectual property generation and technical documentation
• Contributing to grant‑funded R&D programmes and collaborative industrial projects
• Ability to travel within UK/EU (up to 10% of the time)

About You

We're looking for someone who enjoys practical development work and has a passion for sustainable materials.

Essential Requirements

• MSc or PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Polymer Chemistry or a related discipline
• Industrial experience developing polymer formulations
• Experience operating twin‑screw compounders
• Strong understanding of polymer processing principles
• Experience with thermoplastics processing
• Experience with reactive extrusion techniques, such as maleic anhydride grafting for compatibilisation, peroxide‑initiated chain modification, in‑situ polymer compatibilisation, chain extension of biodegradable polyesters, and reactive coupling with fillers or fibres
• Knowledge of polymer additives and their functions
• Experience analysing mechanical and thermal material properties
• Ability to independently design and execute experimentsStrong problem‑solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Desirable experience

• Bio‑based polymers
• Biodegradable polymersPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)
• Design of Experiments (DoE)
• Statistical analysis
• Rheology, DMA, DSC, TGA, FTIR, SEM

Personal qualities

You are someone who:

• Enjoys working in a fast‑paced start‑up environment
• Likes solving challenging technical problems
• Is curious and innovative
• Takes ownership of projects
• Works well independently and within multidisciplinary teams
• Is practical and enjoys laboratory work
• Is motivated by developing products with real environmental impact

What We Offer

• Salary of £35,000–£45,000, depending on experience
• Starting date: September 2026
• Pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Opportunity to work with cutting‑edge sustainable materials
• Significant career progression within a rapidly growing company
• Exposure to international collaborations and commercial product development
• Opportunity to contribute to patented technologies and new product launches
• Office and lab facilities at The Innovation Centre, 217 Portobello, S1 4DP, Sheffield, UK

Why Join Phast?

At Phast, we're building the future of sustainable polymers. Our technologies aim to eliminate persistent plastic waste while delivering the performance required by demanding industrial applications. You'll join a small, ambitious team where your ideas will directly influence the direction of the company, the products we develop, and the impact we make. If you're excited about translating innovative materials research into real‑world products, we'd love to hear from you.