Senior Materials Scientist/Engineer

BAE Systems; Towcester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense and aerospace company located in Towcester is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist/Engineer. The ideal candidate will undertake research and development in materials technologies and collaborate with stakeholders. Required qualifications include a minimum HNC/HND in a relevant field and strong communication skills. This role offers a competitive salary starting at £45,000 and involves hands-on laboratory work, making it ideal for those looking to contribute to innovative materials development.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible discounted health benefits

Private health plans

Shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Minimum HNC/HND in Materials Engineering or Applied Science with work experience.
• Interest in electromagnetically interacting materials.
• Good communication skills and understanding of safe practices.

Responsibilities

• Conduct R&D of materials technologies for Aerospace and Maritime.
• Prepare technical reports and present findings.
• Fabricate and analyze materials and technology prototypes.

Skills

Materials Science interest

Good communication skills

Understanding of safe working practices

Education

Minimum HNC/HND in Materials Engineering / Applied Science

Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in relevant field

Job description

Job title: Senior Materials Scientist/Engineer

Location: Towcester - onsite

Salary: £45,000+ depending on experience

What you’ll be doing:

• Undertaking research and development of emerging materials technologies with different applications (e.g. Aerospace, Maritime etc)
• The preparation of technical reports and presentations and presentation of these outputs to internal and external stakeholders
• Carrying out and overseeing the fabrication, measurement and analysis of materials and technology prototypes
• Liaising with both internal and external stakeholders
• Collaborating with universities and other organisations/institutes to develop lower TRL and generation after next technologies. Participation in tech watch activities to support the business, our partner organisations and our customers

Your skills and experiences:

Essential:

• Minimum HNC/HND in Materials Engineering / Applied Science (Chemistry or Physics) discipline with work experience
• A general interest in Materials Science and/or the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with materials, particularly in the fields of elastomers, composites, ceramics and/or polymers
• Possesses good communication skills, both written and verbal
• An understanding of the importance of safe working practises

Desirable:

• Undergraduate degree and/or postgraduate degree (MSc/ PhD) in Materials Engineering / Applied Science (Chemistry or Physics)
• Previous experience working in a material related role with the Aerospace industry or within a Technology catapult environment or academic research group

Benefits:

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Microwave Materials Team:

You’ll be joining the Microwave Materials team within BAE Systems’ Advanced Technology Solutions organisation, a dynamic, forward-thinking group pushing the boundaries of next-generation materials research. The team focuses on developing novel materials that interact with electromagnetic radiation across the RF and microwave spectrum, often for use in challenging or high-performance environments.

This is a hands‑on R&D environment where no two weeks look the same. You’ll split your time between practical lab work, building and testing prototypes, analysing results, and preparing technical reports for internal and external stakeholders. While prior experience with elastomers or electromagnetic material interaction is beneficial, it’s not essential, what matters most is adaptability, curiosity, and a willingness to learn new technologies and methods.

The role is well suited to someone who thrives in a fast-moving research setting and can grow into taking ownership of work with limited oversight. There are no specific software or tools required in advance; instead, the team values agile thinkers who are eager to pick up new skills and contribute to innovative materials development.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role , to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Application Process:

When applying for this role you will be redirected to BAE Systems careers site where you will be required to:

• Register an account (this is optional, you can apply as a guest)
• Provide contact information
• Upload your CV
• Complete a short diversity & inclusion questionnaire

When asked source type, please select "job board advertisement" then "the IET / E+T Jobs".

Closing Date: 16th December 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.