Job Title: Configuration Manager Job Reports To: Engineering Director Department: Vehicles Location: Coventry CV6 Core Hours: 08:00-16:35 (Mon – Thu) 08:00-15:10 (Fri) Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full-time and based onsite with potential hybrid working Salary: £60,000+ (subject to experience) per annum + Discretionary Bonus JOB SUMMARY Are you a Configuration Manager looking for a new challenge and the chance to...
N P Aerospace Ltd
Longford, Coventry
Composite Project Manager
Who Our Leicestershire based client is a leading manufacturer of Composite and GRP components, offering complete engineering solutions to it’s customers in sectors such as F1, Motorsport, Automotive, Aerospace, Marine and more. Now embarking on a new and exciting part of their story, our client now has the following opportunity. What We are looking for an experienced and passionate Project...
Roundtable Recruitment
Melton Mowbray
Rubber Technologist
My client, a manufacturing specialist, are recruiting for a Rubber Technologist. This is the perfect role, offering a clear career path within a very niche industry. What’s on offer: Working fixed day shift NEG basic salary negotiable DOE Great company team and culture Varied role offering structured training and progression. The Job: Responsible for testing of rubber compounds Production of...
Proslipsi Recruitment Specialist
Oldham
Process Engineer – Welding Specialist
We are working in partnership with a leading manufacturing organisation to recruit an experienced Process Engineer with a strong background in Welding. This is an excellent opportunity for a technically driven engineer to join a well-established engineering team supporting high-quality, precision manufacturing operations. The Role As a Process Engineer specialising in welding, you will play a key role in developing,...
M-Tec Engineering Solutions
Oldbury
Composite Laminator
Composite Laminator SW 18 London | Temporary (Temp-to-Perm) Pay: £17–£19 per hour A leading composites R&D and manufacturing business is developing next-generation materials and structures for aerospace, automotive, energy and other high-performance sectors. The team combines cutting-edge research, rapid prototyping and extensive testing to deliver innovative composite solutions for a cleaner, more sustainable future. The Opportunity An experienced Composite Laminator ...
Holt Engineering
The Mews
Bench Joiner
Pattern Maker / Bench Joiner Industry Type: Manufacturing Location: Gloucester Salary: Up to £37,500 (dependent on experience) + Benefits Are you a skilled Pattern Maker or Bench Joiner with experience in composite materials, metalwork, and woodworking? We're looking for a talented individual to join our Manufacturing Materials team in a challenging and rewarding role. If you have an eye for...
If you’re navigating the materials science job market, it can feel like the list of tools, techniques and platforms you should learn grows every week. One job advert mentions electron microscopy, another mentions X-ray diffraction, yet another wants experience with thermal analysis, spectroscopy, simulation software, statistical packages, manufacturing QA systems and more.
With so many specialised methods and instruments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed — and to start thinking you need to know everything just to be considered.
Here’s the honest truth most materials science hiring managers won’t tell you directly:
👉 They don’t hire you because you know every piece of equipment or software. They hire you because you can use the tools you do know to answer real questions, make reliable measurements and communicate results clearly.
Tools are essential — no question — but they are secondary to problem-solving ability, scientific reasoning and experimental rigour.
So the real question is: how many materials science tools do you actually need to know to get a job? The precise number depends on the role you want, but for most job seekers the answer is far fewer than you think.
This article breaks down what employers really value, which tools are core, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so your CV and interviews stand out for the right reasons.
Materials science is a broad, interdisciplinary field that spans academia, industry, research, engineering and manufacturing. Whether you’re applying for roles in R&D, process development, quality assurance, failure analysis, nanomaterials or product scale-up, hiring managers make key decisions within the first few seconds of scanning your application.
In competitive job markets, simply listing skills or qualifications isn’t enough. Hiring managers are looking for signals of relevance, technical depth, problem-solving capability and real-world impact — and they expect those signals to be clear right from the top of your CV or portfolio.
This guide breaks down exactly what hiring managers typically look for first in materials science applications, why they look for it, and how you can optimise your CV, cover letter and portfolio so your application stands out and gets past the first filter.
Materials science sits at the heart of innovation — from sustainable energy and advanced manufacturing to aerospace, electronics, healthcare and beyond. It is an interdisciplinary field combining physics, chemistry, engineering and applied science to design and improve materials that power modern technology.
Despite the clear strategic importance of materials science, employers across the UK report persistent challenges hiring graduates who are truly job-ready. Organisations need professionals who can contribute immediately to research, development, manufacturing, quality control and product scale-up — yet many recent graduates struggle to bridge the gap between academic preparation and workplace demands.
This gap is not caused by a lack of intelligence or enthusiasm. It is a growing skills gap between what universities teach and what real materials science jobs require.
This article explores the materials science skills gap in depth: what universities teach well, what they often miss, why the gap exists, what employers want, and how aspiring professionals can bridge the divide to build successful careers in this vital UK industry.
Shaping the Future of Materials
Your Gateway to Materials Science Careers
Connecting talented materials scientists and engineers with innovative companies developing cutting-edge materials and technologies.
Job Seekers:
Explore a wide range of materials science roles, from research and development to manufacturing and applications. Find your next challenge in areas like polymers, nanomaterials, biomaterials, and metallurgy.
Precise Talent Acquisition:
Build a leading materials science team with top talent skilled in materials characterisation, processing, and analysis. Post your materials science jobs and attract the best candidates.
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