Metallography & Materials Characterisation Specialist

Amentum; Risley; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Hybrid/flexible hours

Parental leave pay

Professional development

Employee assistance

Job summary

Amentum in Birchwood laboratory seeks a Characterisation Specialist to join the growing team. You will gain hands-on experience with metallographic preparation, microscopy, and materials analysis to support nuclear materials testing programmes across the UK.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant science, practical lab skills, and a meticulous approach to quality. Hybrid/flexible working arrangements are available within a collaborative scientific environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Practical experience of metallographic preparation: cutting, grinding, polishing.
• Experience using optical microscopy for materials characterisation.
• Knowledge of specimen inspection techniques and quality evaluation.
• Strong practical laboratory skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support materials, corrosion and mechanical testing programmes with high-quality characterisation data.
• Prepare metallic specimens through cutting, mounting, grinding, polishing and etching.
• Conduct metallographic investigations using optical microscopy and related techniques.
• Perform specimen inspection activities including dimensional measurements and hardness testing.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, records and documentation to high standards of quality and traceability.
• Work safely within lab and quality systems and contribute to continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers and technicians on diverse projects.

Skills

Metallographic prep

Optical microscopy

Specimen inspection

Lab safety & quality

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science/Metallurgy/Engineering/Physics

Tools

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Job description

Amentum in Birchwood laboratory seeks a Characterisation Specialist to join the growing team. You will gain hands-on experience with metallographic preparation, microscopy, and materials analysis to support nuclear materials testing programmes across the UK.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant science, practical lab skills, and a meticulous approach to quality. Hybrid/flexible working arrangements are available within a collaborative scientific environment.