Senior Research Scientist

SRG; Sedgefield; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

SRG, based at the National Formulation Centre in Sedgefield, seeks Senior Research Scientists (Levels 1 & 2) to lead battery materials projects. You will drive technical delivery, develop materials and processes, and engage with partners to advance energy storage capabilities.

Requires a degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Electrochemistry, Physics, or related fields, with substantial battery materials experience.

Qualifications

• Degree, Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Electrochemistry, Physics or related field.
• Significant experience in battery materials, electrochemistry, or inorganic materials development.
• Experience leading technical projects and solving complex scientific challenges.
• Ability to work across multidisciplinary teams and influence project direction.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery across medium to large-scale customer and collaborative R&D projects.
• Develop and scale-up advanced battery materials and processes.
• Build and maintain networks with industrial partners, customers, academic collaborators, and research organisations; act as a credible external representative.
• Coach and mentor colleagues; contribute to long-term battery materials capability growth.
• Ensure safety, quality & compliance; maintain high standards of technical documentation and reporting.

Skills

Battery materials

Electrochemistry

Inorganic materials

Process development

Technical leadership

Project delivery

Mentoring

Stakeholder engagement

Education

PhD or equivalent industrial experience in Chemical Engineering / Electrochemistry / Physics

Master's degree in related field

Job description

Senior Research Scientists – Battery & Inorganic Materials (Levels 1 & 2)

Sedgefield | Permanent

About the Role

We are seeking Senior Research Scientists (Levels 1 & 2) to join our rapidly growing Nanomaterials and Composites Team within the Advanced Materials & Devices business at the National Formulation Centre in Sedgefield. This is a key area of strategic growth as demand for battery materials innovation continues to accelerate across the UK and internationally.

This campaign is being run as a combined recruitment process for both Senior Research Scientist 1 and Senior Research Scientist 2 positions. The level offered will depend on the experience, expertise, and capability demonstrated throughout the recruitment process.

We are particularly interested in individuals with expertise in battery materials, electrochemistry, inorganic materials, and process development, who can provide technical leadership on customer-facing projects while helping shape the future direction of the organisation's battery materials capability.

What You'll Be Responsible For:

Technical Leadership & Project Delivery

• Lead technical delivery across medium to large-scale customer and collaborative R&D projects.
• Act as a recognised technical expert in battery materials and associated technologies.

Battery Materials & Process Development

• Support the development and scale-up of advanced battery materials and associated processes.
• Apply expertise in areas such as:
• Electrochemistry
• Cathode and anode materials
• Inorganic materials
• Battery materials synthesis
• Milling
• Calcination
• Materials characterisation and application testing

Customer & External Engagement

• Build and maintain strong networks with industrial partners, customers, academic collaborators, and research organisations.
• Act as a credible technical representative externally.
• Support customer discussions and identify opportunities for future projects and collaborations.
• Contribute to business development activities, proposal development, and bid support.

Capability Development & Mentoring

• Coach, mentor, and support the development of colleagues across the organisation.
• Contribute to the long‑term growth of battery materials capability.
• For more senior candidates, there may be opportunities to shape technical direction and support wider team development.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with Safety, Health & Environmental (SHE) requirements.
• Maintain high standards of technical documentation and reporting.
• Participate in hazard studies, risk assessments, and quality improvement initiatives.

About You

You are a technically strong battery materials professional who enjoys combining scientific innovation, customer engagement, and project leadership.

You'll bring:

• A degree, Master's, PhD, or equivalent industrial experience in:
• Chemical Engineering
• Electrochemistry
• Physics
• A related discipline
• Significant experience in battery materials, electrochemistry, or inorganic materials development.
• Experience leading technical projects and solving complex scientific challenges.
• Ability to work across multidisciplinary teams and influence project direction.

Particularly Relevant Experience:

We are especially interested in candidates with expertise in:

• Electrochemistry (our highest priority area)
• Cathode and anode active materials
• Inorganic materials
• Calcination processes
• Milling and particle engineering
• Battery performance testing and characterisation
• Scale‑up and manufacturing development

Desirable (but not essential)

• Chartered status with a relevant professional institution.
• Experience contributing to bids, proposals, or business development.
• Existing industrial network within battery materials or advanced materials sectors.
• Experience mentoring or developing colleagues.
• Expertise in other inorganic materials technologies beyond batteries.

Why Join?

• Join one of the UK's leading centres for battery materials innovation.
• Work within the National Formulation Centre at the forefront of energy storage development.
• Play a key role in a rapidly expanding technology area with significant investment and growth.
• Collaborate with leading industrial partners, innovators, and researchers.
• Influence future technologies supporting sustainability and electrification.
• Competitive salary and excellent development opportunities.

The Opportunity

Battery materials is one of the fastest-growing technology areas, and demand for expertise continues to increase. This is an opportunity to join a well-established technical team, contribute to nationally significant projects, and help shape the future of battery technologies in the UK.

Whether you join at Senior Research Scientist 1 or Senior Research Scientist 2 level, you'll play a key role in delivering innovation, developing capability, and helping bring next‑generation energy storage technologies closer to commercial reality.