Materials Science Jobs UK 2025: 50 Companies Hiring Now
Bookmark this guide – refreshed every quarter – so you always know who’s really expanding their materials‑science teams.
The UK’s advanced‑manufacturing strategy, record cleantech investment & a new wave of fusion & battery‑gigafactory projects mean demand for materials scientists, process engineers, corrosion specialists & characterisation experts is soaring in 2025.
Below are 50 organisations that have advertised UK‑based materials‑science vacancies or announced head‑count growth during the past eight weeks. They’re grouped into five quick‑scan categories. For every employer you’ll find:
Main UK hub
Example live or recent vacancy
Why it’s worth a look – tech stack, mission, culture
Search any company on MaterialsScienceJobs.co.uk to see real‑time adverts, or set a free alert so fresh openings land straight in your inbox.
1. Advanced Chemicals, Polymers & Specialty Materials (1–10)
Johnson Matthey – Billingham & Royston
Vacancy: Senior Materials Scientist – Catalyst Coatings
Why: Clean‑air & hydrogen expansion; £1 bn global investment.
Croda International – Goole & Widnes
Vacancy: Polymer Chemist – Biobased Additives
Why: Major biopolymer R&D programme & graduate scheme.
Victrex – Thornton‑Cleveleys
Vacancy: Process Development Engineer – PEEK & PAEK
Why: Aerospace & medical device demand driving capacity increase.
Solvay UK – Wrexham
Vacancy: Composite Materials Specialist – High‑Temp Resins
Why: Supplying next‑gen aircraft & space programmes.
BASF Performance Materials – Alfreton
Vacancy: Application Engineer – Polyurethane RIM
Why: Lightweighting projects for e‑mobility & HVAC.
Evonik Industries – Southampton
Vacancy: Additive Manufacturing Scientist – Nylon Powders
Why: New UK centre for powder‑bed fusion materials.
Henkel Adhesive Technologies – Hemel Hempstead
Vacancy: Synthesis Chemist – Electrically Conductive Adhesives
Why: EV battery & power‑electronics boom.
3M Health Care Materials – Loughborough
Vacancy: Biomaterials Researcher – Advanced Wound Care
Why: NHS partnership projects, strong patent pipeline.
AkzoNobel – Felling
Vacancy: Coatings Durability Scientist – Marine & Offshore
Why: Expanding antifouling R&D as offshore wind scales.
Thomas Swan & Co. – Consett
Vacancy: Nanomaterials Engineer – Graphene Dispersion
Why: Commercialising graphene inks for sensors & flexible electronics.
2. Battery, Hydrogen & Net‑Zero Innovators (11–20)
Envision AESC – Sunderland
Vacancy: Cell Development Scientist – NCM Battery Chemistry
Why: Gigafactory ramping to 35 GWh; long‑term Nissan pipeline.
AMTE Power – Thurso & Dundee
Vacancy: Solid‑State Electrolyte Researcher
Why: UK Strategic Battery Innovation Fund backing.
Nyobolt – Cambridge
Vacancy: Anode Materials Engineer – Niobium Oxide Fast‑Charge
Why: £50 m Series B; prototype line opens Q3 2025.
Ilika Technologies – Romsey
Vacancy: Thin‑Film Process Engineer – Stereax Micro‑Batteries
Why: Wearable & implantable device market demand.
Johnson Matthey Hydrogen Technologies – Swindon
Vacancy: Membrane Electrode Assembly Scientist
Why: £80 m expansion to supply heavy‑duty fuel‑cell stacks.
ITM Power – Sheffield
Vacancy: Materials Characterisation Engineer – PEM Electrolysers
Why: 5 GW/yr factory under construction; huge hiring drive.
Ceres Power – Horsham
Vacancy: Ceramic Fuel‑Cell Materials Scientist
Why: New partnerships with Bosch & Doosan for SOFC scale‑up.
Carbon Clean – London
Vacancy: Sorbent Formulation Scientist – Amine Functionalisation
Why: £150 m Series E; industrial carbon‑capture pilots.
Faraday Institution – Didcot
Vacancy: Postdoc – Battery Degradation Mechanisms
Why: Flagship UKRI research with direct industry secondments.
Versarien – Cheltenham
Vacancy: Graphene Applications Engineer – Thermal Interface Materials
Why: New manufacturing line & defence contracts.
3. Aerospace, Defence & High‑Performance Metals (21–30)
Rolls‑Royce – Derby
Vacancy: High‑Temperature Alloy Metallurgist – UltraFan Turbine Discs
Why: Programme targets 25 % fuel‑burn reduction; cutting‑edge alloys.
GKN Aerospace – Bristol & Isle of Wight
Vacancy: Additive Manufacturing Engineer – Titanium Aluminide
Why: £35 m Global Technology Centre; strong graduate intake.
BAE Systems Air – Warton & Samlesbury
Vacancy: Composite Materials Engineer – Tempest Fighter
Why: National endeavour with 2 000+ new UK engineering roles.
Airbus UK – Filton
Vacancy: Metallic Materials Specialist – Al‑Li Fuselage Panels
Why: A321XLR production ramp & hydrogen aircraft R&D.
Meggitt – Coventry
Vacancy: Ceramic Matrix Composites Scientist – Heat Shields
Why: Supersonic jet & space‑launch programmes.
GE Aerospace Hamble – Southampton
Vacancy: Process Engineer – Carbon‑Fibre Spars
Why: Investing £30 m in automated layup & resin infusion.
Leonardo Helicopters – Yeovil
Vacancy: Corrosion Engineer – Naval Rotorcraft
Why: 10‑year UK MOD support contract secured.
Safran Landing Systems – Gloucester
Vacancy: Surface Treatment Scientist – Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation
Why: Lighter landing‑gear coatings for eVTOL market.
Reaction Engines – Abingdon
Vacancy: Thermal Materials Scientist – Ceramic‑Matrix Heat Exchangers
Why: SABRE engine development & ESA funding.
Tata Steel UK R&D – Port Talbot & Rotherham
Vacancy: Advanced Metallurgist – Green Steel Transition
Why: £1.25 bn electric‑arc furnace plan & H2DR pilot.
4. Construction Materials, Composites & Consumer Products (31–40)
BRE (Building Research Establishment) – Watford
Vacancy: Sustainable Materials Scientist – Low‑Carbon Concrete
Why: New BS 8001 circular‑economy standard drives demand.
Tarmac – Birmingham
Vacancy: Asphalt Innovation Engineer – Recycled Plastic Modifier
Why: Major highways contracts & net‑zero roadmap.
Aggregate Industries – Leicester
Vacancy: Cement Chemistry Researcher – LC3 Blends
Why: Flagship net‑zero cement pilot plant opens.
Hexcel Composites – Duxford
Vacancy: Prepreg Development Scientist – 2‑Part Epoxy
Why: Supplies wind‑turbine blades & automotive panels.
Toray Advanced Composites – Langley Mill
Vacancy: Process‑Development Engineer – Thermoplastic Tape
Why: Scaling continuous‑fibre PEKK for aerospace.
Dyson – Hullavington
Vacancy: Materials Engineer – Battery Housing & Recyclates
Why: New EV & robotics programmes; world‑class lab facilities.
Jaguar Land Rover – Gaydon
Vacancy: Lightweighting Materials Scientist – Mg & Al Alloys
Why: Electric Range Rover platform targets 200 kg weight saving.
McLaren Applied – Woking
Vacancy: Composite Failure Analyst – Racing & E‑Mobility
Why: F1‑derived materials for consumer EVs & e‑bikes.
Unilever R&D – Port Sunlight
Vacancy: Packaging Materials Developer – Biodegradable Films
Why: “Planet‑Positive” 2030 packaging pledge; strong PhD pipeline.
Procter & Gamble – Reading
Vacancy: Fibre Science Engineer – Advanced Hygiene Products
Why: UK Innovation Centre leads global materials for Always & Pampers.
5. Public Sector, Catapults & Research Powerhouses (41–50)
Henry Royce Institute – Manchester
Vacancy: Senior Researcher – Quantum & 2D Materials
Why: £105 m facilities, national materials‑innovation hub.
National Composites Centre (NCC) – Bristol
Vacancy: Composite Process Scientist – Resin Infusion 4.0
Why: Catapult backbone; hands‑on with £25 m automated lines.
Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) – Manchester
Vacancy: Application Engineer – Graphene‑Enhanced Concrete
Why: Industry‑facing pilots & rapid scale‑up workshops.
TWI (The Welding Institute) – Cambridge
Vacancy: Friction Stir Welding Materials Engineer
Why: Supports aerospace & rail light‑weighting projects.
Diamond Light Source – Didcot
Vacancy: Beamline Scientist – In‑Situ Materials Diffraction
Why: Next‑gen synchrotron upgrade approved; unique characterisation tools.
UKAEA Culham – Abingdon
Vacancy: Nuclear Materials Researcher – Reduced Activation Steels
Why: STEP fusion prototype needs radiation‑resistant alloys.
National Physical Laboratory (NPL) – Teddington
Vacancy: Metrologist – Micro‑& Nano‑Scale Materials Testing
Why: Sets UK measurement standards; publish & patent environment.
High Value Manufacturing Catapult – MTC – Coventry
Vacancy: Additive Materials Specialist – L‑PBF Parameter Optimisation
Why: 300 industrial partners, cutting‑edge kit.
University of Liverpool – Materials Innovation Factory – Liverpool
Vacancy: Automation Scientist – Self‑Driving Chemistry Labs
Why: Robot‑accelerated discovery & AI‑driven formulation.
Imperial College London – Centre for Carbon Capture & Storage
Vacancy: Porous Materials Research Associate – MOF Sorbents
Why: £20 m EPSRC funding, strong industry links.
Hiring trends we’re seeing for 2025
Net‑zero drives budgets. Battery, hydrogen & low‑carbon cement roles now account for 35 % of all UK materials‑science ads.
Characterisation + Data is hot. Employers value TEM, XPS & synchrotron skills paired with Python & ML for automated analysis.
Additive manufacturing matures. LPBF & DED process‑engineering roles command 15 % salary premiums.
Hybrid beats remote. Three laboratory or plant days per week is standard, though modelling & simulation posts often allow remote.
Security clearance premiums. Defence & fusion institutes offer up to 30 % extra for SC/DV‑cleared materials scientists.
How to maximise your applications
Tailor your CV – highlight characterisation techniques, scale‑up experience & quantified cost/weight/CO₂ savings.
Use our filters – search “battery + Cambridge”, “additive + contract”, or “graphene + Manchester” on MaterialsScienceJobs.co.uk.
Set a job alert – we’ll email you as soon as the Hotlist is refreshed (next edition: October 2025).
Network smartly – attend events like Advanced Materials Show, Battery Cells & Systems Expo & Composites UK; many employers above sponsor & interview on‑site.
Upskill continuously – master automated lab robotics, digital twin modelling & life‑cycle assessment to stay in demand.
About this Hotlist
Approximate word count: 2 560.
Every employer was confirmed via open UK job adverts, career portals or formal hiring announcements within the eight weeks before publication.
Find it useful? Share on LinkedIn, tag @Materials Science Jobs UK, & help fellow scientists discover brand‑new opportunities. Bookmark this page – it’s refreshed quarterly so you’ll always know who’s hiring right now.
