Agratas – A Tata Enterprise
Senior Materials Scientist
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Purpose of the Role
Senior Materials Scientist
Cell Technology | Milton Park Oxfordshire, UK
Help Shape the Future of Battery Technology
At Agratas, we're building the next generation of sustainable battery technologies that will power the future of mobility and energy storage. As we continue to expand our Cell Technology team, we are looking for an exceptional Senior Materials Scientist to drive the development of emerging battery chemistries and advanced cell architectures from concept through to prototype validation.
This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of battery innovation, applying deep expertise in materials science and electrochemistry to solve some of the industry's most challenging technical problems. You'll play a critical role in identifying, developing and integrating novel materials that will underpin future battery technologies, working alongside world-class scientists and engineers in a highly collaborative research environment.
The Role
Reporting to a Principal Scientist, you will lead hands-on research and development activities focused on battery materials and interfaces. You will translate promising scientific concepts into practical prototypes, investigate performance and degradation mechanisms, and provide the evidence needed to support technology maturation and scale-up.
You will combine fundamental scientific understanding with practical experimental expertise, helping to reduce technical uncertainty and accelerate the development of next-generation battery technologies.
Key Responsibility Areas
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Lead Development of Emerging Battery Materials
Identify, evaluate, formulate and optimise materials for next-generation battery chemistries and advanced cell architectures. Develop deep understanding of the interaction between active materials, electrolytes, binders, conductive additives, separators, coatings and interfaces. Assess how material properties influence electrochemical performance, stability, safety, ageing and reliability.
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Design and Build Prototype Cells
Develop proof-of-concept cells and components using laboratory and controlled-environment techniques. Establish robust and repeatable build processes for benchtop and small-scale prototypes. Translate innovative material concepts into experimentally validated battery components and cells.
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Deliver Rigorous Experimental Programmes
Design structured test plans to evaluate technical feasibility and performance. Define meaningful success criteria, controls and development milestones. Analyse complex datasets to generate clear technical conclusions and development recommendations.
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Characterise Materials and Understand Failure Mechanisms
Apply electrochemical and materials characterisation techniques to understand performance drivers. Lead post-mortem analysis and prototype teardowns. Identify degradation pathways, interfacial instabilities, corrosion mechanisms and other failure modes. Feed findings back into material design and development strategies.
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Drive Innovation and Technology Assessment
Evaluate emerging technologies through scientific literature, patents, supplier engagement and experimental evidence. Assess scientific novelty, technical maturity, manufacturability and scale-up potential. Contribute to technology roadmaps and future research directions.
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Collaborate Across the Organisation
Work closely with teams across cell design, modelling, process engineering, safety, analytical science, testing, IP and supply chain. Provide technical guidance to research partners, universities and specialist suppliers. Present recommendations and findings to technical and project stakeholders.
Job Context
What You'll Bring
Essential Experience
- PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Electrochemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related scientific discipline.
- Significant hands-on experience within battery research and development.
- Demonstrable expertise in emerging battery chemistries and/or advanced cell architectures.
- Experience translating material concepts into benchtop or small-scale demonstrator prototypes.
- Strong understanding of electrochemistry, interfacial science and materials behaviour in energy storage systems.
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Technical Expertise
You Will Bring Experience In Several Of The Following
- Battery materials development and optimisation.
- Electrode and cell fabrication.
- Electrochemical testing techniques including:
- Galvanostatic cycling
- Cyclic voltammetry
- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
- Pulse and rate capability testing
- Self-discharge analysis
- Materials characterisation techniques such as:
- XRD
- SEM/EDX
- XPS
- Raman spectroscopy
- FTIR
- Thermal analysis
- Particle size and porosity measurements
- Failure analysis and degradation investigations.
- Experimental design, statistical analysis and technical problem solving.
Personal Attributes
- Curious, innovative and scientifically rigorous.
- Passionate about developing breakthrough battery technologies.
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Able to work independently while thriving in multidisciplinary teams.
- Committed to high standards of safety, quality and technical excellence.
Preferred Experience
- Postdoctoral research or industrial R&D experience in advanced battery technologies.
- Track record of scientific leadership through technical project ownership.
- Publications, patents or demonstrable contribution to technology development.
- Experience working with academic partners, research organisations or specialist material suppliers.
- Experience supporting the progression of technologies from laboratory research towards scaled demonstrations.
Why Join Agratas?
At Agratas, you'll be part of a mission-driven organisation committed to transforming sustainable energy and mobility. You'll work alongside leading scientists and engineers, access world-class facilities, and have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the future of battery technology.
If you're excited by cutting-edge research, scientific discovery and the opportunity to turn innovative materials into real-world battery solutions, we'd love to hear from you.
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