Senior Research Scientist - Materials Science

SRG; Sedgefield; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

CPI, located in the United Kingdom, is seeking a Senior Research Scientist in Materials Science to lead complex R&D programs focused on functional materials and coatings. The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and translating science into practical industry solutions.

The successful candidate will guide multi-project delivery, work with customers and partners, and mentor junior scientists while maintaining high standards of safety and reporting.

Qualifications

• Experience leading medium to large R&D projects in a materials context.
• Ability to translate scientific understanding into practical, real-world solutions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery of medium to large R&D projects for customers and collaborators.
• Provide scientific direction and mentorship to project teams.
• Plan and execute experiments on materials development, characterisation and formulation.
• Develop innovative solutions for functional materials and coatings.
• Interpret and present technical data and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Build relationships with customers, partners and academia.
• Support business development and future project opportunities.
• Coach junior scientists to strengthen team capability.
• Maintain high safety, quality and technical reporting standards.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring

Scientific communication

Education

Materials Science

Chemistry

Chemical Engineering

Physics

Job description

Senior Research Scientist - Materials Science

Job Type

Permanent

Location

Job Ref

BBBH189175_1792071545

Date Added

October 15th, 2026

Consultant

Senior Research Scientist - Materials Science (Level 1 or 2)
Salary: £34,500 - £52,537 per annum (dependent on experience)
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Location: Sedgefield
About the Role:

We are seeking a Senior Research Scientist to join our Materials Science team, with a particular focus on functional materials and coatings. This role is available at either Senior Research Scientist Level 1 or Level 2, depending on the experience, technical expertise and leadership capability demonstrated during the recruitment process.
This opportunity is ideally suited to someone with a strong background in materials science who enjoys translating scientific understanding into practical, real-world solutions. While expertise in coatings is highly desirable, we're also interested in candidates who have worked more broadly across functional materials and are keen to apply their knowledge to a diverse range of industrial challenges.
The successful candidate will play a leading role in project delivery, taking responsibility for technical direction, customer engagement and mentoring colleagues. You'll work across multiple projects ranging from materials development and characterisation through to formulation and application development, helping customers overcome complex technical challenges.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the technical delivery of medium to large-scale customer and collaborative R&D projects.
• Acting as a technical lead for project teams and providing scientific direction to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Designing, planning and executing experimental programmes focused on materials development, characterisation and formulation.
• Developing innovative solutions for customer challenges in functional materials and coatings.
• Analysing, interpreting and presenting technical data and recommendations.
• Building strong relationships with customers, industrial partners and academic collaborators.
• Supporting business development activities, proposal preparation and future project opportunities.
• Coaching, mentoring and developing junior scientists, helping to strengthen capability across the wider team.
• Maintaining high standards of safety, quality, technical reporting and documentation.

About You
We're looking for an experienced Materials Scientist who combines strong technical capability with leadership potential and a collaborative approach.
You will likely have:

• A degree,MSc, PhD or equivalent industrial experience in:
  • Materials Science
  • Chemistry
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Physics
  • Or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in materials development, functional materials or coatings.
• Experience leading projects or technical workstreams within a research, development or industrial environment.
• Strong scientific problem-solving capabilities and the ability to translate ideas into practical outcomes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience supporting, coaching or mentoring colleagues.
• The ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and multiple concurrent projects.

Particularly Relevant Experience
We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Functional coatings
• Coating materials and formulation development
• Functional materials
• Materials chemistry
• Bio-based or recycled materials
• Battery materials
• Product and process development

Why Join CPI?

This is an opportunity to play a leading role within a highly diverse Materials Science team, working across a broad portfolio of innovative technologies and customer projects. You'll have the chance to influence technical direction, develop future capabilities, support the growth of colleagues and help bring novel materials and coating technologies closer to commercial application.
The role would particularly suit someone who enjoys combining technical leadership, project delivery and scientific innovation, and who is ready to take ownership of projects while helping develop the next generation of materials scientists.

We believe in the power of science - that's why we stay at the forefront of the life sciences industry, keeping up to date with the latest research, innovations, and market trends to provide valuable insight and guidance to our clients and candidates.