Senior Materials Engineer

Leonardo Worldwide Corporation; Southampton; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme with employer contrib

Flexible benefits up to £500 annually

Job summary

Leonardo UK is seeking a Chemistry specialist to support growth, purification and characterisation of semiconductor and ferroelectric materials for IR sensing applications. The role focuses on elemental purification, bulk crystal growth and later epitaxial layer assessment with characterization tools.

Applicants should have a chemistry degree or PhD with materials experience, plus industrial lab exposure. Some shift work may be required; health and safety responsibilities surround the position.

Qualifications

• Degree or PhD in Chemistry with relevant experience in Functional/Advanced materials.
• Several years relevant industrial/laboratory experience.
• Comfortable working alone or in a small team, potentially including shift work.

Responsibilities

• Purification of elements used in growth process.
• Bulk crystal growth, including solution growth of Ferroelectric single crystals.
• Characterisation of Semiconductors and Ferroelectrics.
• Operation and maintenance of a MOCVD reactor.
• Maintain safe working environment in labs and advise on other areas on site.
• Ensure process conforms to quality procedures.

Skills

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerP

Chemistry knowledge

Teamwork

Education

Degree or PhD in Chemistry

Tools

MOCVD reactor

Semiconductor characterisation equipment

Job description

Job Description:

Salary: £44,171 -54,500

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is bench marked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Your impact

Working as part of the Materials Growth team, you will provide a hands‑on role in the growth, purification and characterisation of semiconductor and ferroelectric materials. These materials are used in a variety of different infra red sensing applications. It is an excellent opportunity for someone who is looking to develop their engineering experience in the field of semiconductor materials growth. We are looking to compliment the group’s diverse technical expertise with a specialist in Chemistry. This role would also involve advising on health and safety requirements and risk assessments across the site.

We expect all engineers to be hands on and capable of performing the processes they are involved in. Initially the focus will be on elemental purification and bulk crystal growth. As experience develops get more involved in the preparation and assessment of epitaxial layers with semiconductor characterisation tools. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute towards process optimisation and improvement activities, should have a keen eye for detail and be able to apply practical problem solving skills to help meet production demand.

Key responsibilities:

• Purification of elements used in growth process.
• Bulk crystal growth, including solution growth of Ferroelectric single crystals.
• Characterisation of Semiconductors and Ferroelectrics.
• Operation and maintenance of a MOCVD reactor.
• Maintain safe working environment in labs and advise on other areas on site.
• Ensure process conforms to quality procedures.

What you’ll bring

• A Degree or PhD in Chemistry with relevant experience in Functional/ Advanced materials.
• Several years relevant industrial/ laboratory experience
• To be comfortable with working alone or in a small team, potentially including shift working
• Safety conscious, working with hazardous substances
• Experience of Microsoft Office based applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Genuine interest in Science and Engineering

Desirable:

• Experience of HAZOP reviews and other risk assessments
• Computational Fluid Dynamics.
• Solution growth of crystals.
• Knowledge of MOCVD
• Experience of elemental purification
• Experience with semiconductor process or characterisation equipment

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work-life balance. Whether you’re looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexidays each year.

• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website. Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Primary Location: GB - Southampton

Contract Type: Employee-Permanent

Hybrid Working: Onsite