SRG
Principal Scientist
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Principal Scientist – Polymer Chemistry
Sedgefield | Permanent | £49,045 – £65,045
About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced Principal Scientist – Polymer Chemistry to join our established Nanomaterials & Composites Team within the Advanced Materials & Devices technology centre at NETPark, Sedgefield. This is a senior technical leadership role within one of the organisation's largest and fastest-growing materials science groups.
The team delivers a broad portfolio of commercial and collaborative R&D projects across sustainable polymers, advanced coatings, nanomaterials, composites, battery materials, and future manufacturing technologies. Due to continued growth and major long-term programmes, this organisation is looking to strengthen its expertise in polymer chemistry and scale-up.
A significant part of this role will involve supporting the development of next-generation polymer technologies, including projects focused on advanced fibre and materials manufacturing. We're particularly interested in candidates who combine deep polymer chemistry expertise with practical experience of scaling polymerisation processes from laboratory development through to pilot-scale operation.
This role offers the opportunity to lead high-profile, multi-year programmes while helping shape future capability within polymer chemistry and advanced materials.
What You'll Be Responsible For:
Technical Leadership & Project Delivery
- Act as a recognised technical expert in polymer chemistry across projects and programmes.
- Lead complex research, development, and scale-up activities from concept through to pilot-scale delivery.
- Provide technical leadership across projects ranging from short proof-of-concept studies through to multi-year strategic programmes.
Polymer Synthesis & Process Development
- Lead the development of novel polymer synthesis routes and polymer processing technologies.
- Design, execute, and oversee laboratory and pilot-scale polymerisation programmes.
- Support development and operation of pilot-scale reactors and polymer manufacturing equipment.
- Optimise polymer synthesis, reaction conditions, scaling strategies, and process performance.
- Analyse and interpret technical data, translating findings into practical solutions and commercial opportunities.
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Technology Strategy & Innovation
- Identify emerging scientific developments and future market opportunities.
- Translate technical trends into new capabilities, projects, and innovation programmes.
- Support the development of materials science and polymer technology strategy.
- Contribute to capability building within polymer chemistry, sustainable materials, and advanced manufacturing.
Customer Engagement & Business Development
- Work closely with Business Development and Bid Development teams to secure new commercial and collaborative projects.
- Contribute technical expertise to funding proposals, bids, and customer discussions.
- Build and maintain strong networks across industry, academia, and research organisations.
- Act as a credible technical representative with customers, partners, and external stakeholders.
Mentoring & Capability Development
- Coach and mentor scientists and engineers across the organisation.
- Support knowledge sharing and development of technical excellence.
- Help shape future capability within polymer chemistry and materials science.
- Contribute to building a high-performing and collaborative technical culture.
About You:
You are an experienced Polymer Chemist with deep technical expertise, industrial experience, and the ability to lead complex technical projects.
You'll bring:
- Significant industrial experience in Polymer Chemistry.
- A degree, Master's, PhD, or equivalent experience in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Strong expertise in polymer synthesis and polymer process development.
- Experience operating at pilot scale and scaling processes into tens-of-litre reactor environments.
- Proven experience leading complex technical projects and solving challenging scientific problems.
- Experience working collaboratively across technical, commercial, and project teams.
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Particularly Relevant Experience:
We are especially interested in candidates with expertise in:
- Step-growth polymerisation (highly desirable)
- Radical polymerisation
- Pilot-scale or industrial-scale polymer synthesis
- Polymer process development
- Structure-property relationships
- Solution polymerisation
- Dispersed-phase polymerisation
- Reactor-based polymer manufacturing
- Scale-up and commercialisation of polymer technologies
Desirable Experience
- Carbon fibre precursor development or related technologies
- Coatings, paints, adhesives, or composite materials
- Sustainable polymers and circular materials
- Advanced materials manufacturing
- Chartered status with a relevant professional institution
- Experience building external networks and securing collaborative projects
Why Join?
- Join one of the largest and most established materials science teams.
- Play a leading role in major long-term advanced materials programmes.
- Work across sustainable materials, polymers, batteries, nanomaterials, and future manufacturing technologies.
- Influence both technical strategy and capability development.
- Collaborate with leading industrial partners, universities, and research organisations.
- Competitive salary of £49,045 – £65,045 plus excellent development opportunities.
The Opportunity
This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior polymer scientist looking to combine scientific excellence, pilot-scale development, technical leadership, and strategic influence. You'll help deliver nationally significant materials programmes while shaping the future of polymer chemistry capability and supporting the development of next-generation advanced materials technologies.
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