Apprentice Materials Scientist

Start your career as a Materials Scientist through an apprenticeship in our Faculty of Science & Engineering. Build a strong skills portfolio supporting laboratories across synthesis, characterisation, and testing. You

Requirements

• GCSE in:
  • English language (grade 4 or above)
  • Maths (grade 4 or above)
• A Level in:
  • Science (grade C or above (104 UCAS points))
• Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Responsibilities

• Service and upkeep materials and science equipment, glassware, consumables, and sample preparation tools.
• Ensure safe working order, proper storage, and accurate cataloguing.
• Perform basic maintenance on lab apparatus. Liaise with equipment manufacturers or external service engineers to troubleshoot faults and schedule contractor visits, keeping colleagues informed of progress.
• Keep labs tidy, orderly, and safe on a daily basis.
• Track equipment and consumable stock levels. Raise orders and coordinate with colleagues as needed.
• Organise the delivery and disposal of solvents, chemicals, and materials in accordance with relevant regulations.
• Monitor consumable gases used in processing and characterisation equipment.
• Develop and review operating procedures and safe working practices based on daily observations and growing technical knowledge.
• Under the guidance of senior technicians, demonstrate safe equipment operation, basic maintenance, and standard processes to students, staff, and visitors.
• Induct users to ensure safe work in controlled or hazardous environments (e.g., clean-rooms, high-temperature labs, fume cupboards).
• Identify and resolve straightforward practical issues, such as instrument errors or sample preparation issues. Escalate complex problems to senior colleagues.
• Use experience and initiative to execute daily tasks and prioritise your workload with appropriate guidance.
• Utilise cognitive and practical skills in conjunction with adaptability and versatility in technical support both in-house and to clients to improve manufacturing processes, problem solving, innovation, and scale up formulations.
• Determine and use industry standard and emerging digital technologies and data analysis tools to complete work activities and address problems that are ill defined or involve numerous interacting factors.
• Critically evaluate actions, methodologies, and results and their implications in analysing materials against parameters in product specifications.
• Conduct and interpret failure analysis of engineering components using relevant methodologies and systems such as but not limited to, for example, microscopy, macroscopy, and chemical analysis.
• Write clear and succinct technical and analytical reports.
• Research, adapt and test new technologies through materials characterisation feedback.
• Interpret, develop and implement UK and international materials standards, procedures and specifications across a range of operations and contexts.
• Maintain a working knowledge of a range of project management and financial management techniques to complete projects relevant to their discipline.
• Utilise emotional intelligence and identify a range of supervisory, management, and leadership skills in developing the ability to mentor, direct or lead teams or individuals.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders using the appropriate language register both verbally and in writing.