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Featured Jobs
Project Engineer
Project Engineer – Gloucester, Gloucestershire A new opportunity has arisen for a skilled Project Engineer to join an innovative engineering team in Gloucester, Gloucestershire. This role places the successful candidate at the forefront of technical design, product development, and advanced materials engineering for high-performance applications in sectors such as defence, marine, security, and automotive. The Project Engineer job in Gloucester,...
Octagon Group
Gloucester
Production and R&D Technicians
Our client is a turnkey provider for the design, development and manufacture of highly challenging, advanced composite structures. They are a valued partner in the delivery of innovation, engineering and manufacturing services to the Aerospace, Automotive, Energy and Defence sectors. Due to their rapid expansion they are looking to appoint some Production and R&D Technicians to join the team. They...
Strategic Recruitment Partners
Chippenham
Project Engineer - Composites
Our client has been a family run business since 1985, privately owned and is well established already within the thriving composites Industry. They have strong roots in the Marine Leisure market, but a strategy developed over a decade ago to diversify their portfolio of clients into Marine Defence, Aerospace, Simulation and other more our challenging sectors had produced steady continual...
Strategic Recruitment Partners
Poole
Composite Laminators
Our client has been a family run business since 1985, privately owned and is well established already within the thriving composites Industry. They have strong roots in the Marine Leisure market, but a strategy developed over a decade ago to diversify their portfolio of clients into Marine Defence, Aerospace, Simulation and other more our challenging sectors had produced steady continual...
Strategic Recruitment Partners
Poole
Configuration Manager – Military Vehicles
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: £55,000 - £65,000 per annum + Discretionary Bonus JOB SUMMARY Are you a Configuration Manager looking for a new challenge and the chance to support...
N P Aerospace Ltd
Longford, Coventry
General Operative
Company Overview: Join a leading global manufacturer and supplier of cellular polymers and engineered thermoplastics, operating across 19 countries with 58 sites worldwide. Our client provides an extensive range of products catering to diverse market sectors including transport, construction, furniture, and more. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, we're seeking dedicated individuals to join our team at our manufacturing...
Materials science is everywhere – in batteries, semiconductors, medical implants, composites for aircraft, sustainable packaging & more. It’s a field built on curiosity, experimentation, precision & the ability to link microscopic structure to real-world performance.
In other words, it’s a brilliant match for many neurodivergent brains.
If you’re living with ADHD, autism or dyslexia, you may have been told that your brain is “too distracted”, “too literal” or “too chaotic” for a scientific career. In reality, many of the traits that made school or traditional office work difficult can be serious assets in materials science & engineering.
This guide is written for UK job seekers exploring materials science careers. We’ll look at:
What neurodiversity means in a materials science context
How ADHD, autism & dyslexia strengths map to materials roles
Practical workplace adjustments you can ask for under UK law
How to talk about your neurodivergence in applications & interviews
By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of where you might thrive in materials science – & how to turn “different thinking” into a genuine superpower.
As we move into 2026, the materials science jobs market in the UK is becoming more strategic and more selective. Advanced manufacturing, batteries, hydrogen, semiconductors, fusion, net-zero infrastructure and sustainable textiles all depend on advanced materials – and the UK has made these areas a national priority.
Business Growth Service
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At the same time, funding cycles are bumpy, some legacy plants are struggling with energy costs and global competition, and employers are under pressure to hit both climate and productivity targets. That means fewer “nice-to-have” R&D roles and more focus on materials science positions that clearly support growth, decarbonisation and resilience.
Whether you are a materials science job seeker planning your next move, or a recruiter building teams in advanced manufacturing, this guide breaks down the key materials science hiring trends for 2026.
Summary: UK materials science hiring has shifted from title‑led CV screens to capability‑driven assessments that emphasise characterisation with clear conclusions, scale‑up to pilot/production, standards compliance (ASTM/ISO/IATF/AS9100), sustainability/ESG, data literacy & measurable product or yield improvements. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews & how to prepare—especially for battery/materials engineers, polymer/composites specialists, metallurgists, ceramics/glass scientists, surface/thin‑film engineers, failure analysts, process/quality engineers & materials informatics roles.
Who this is for: Materials scientists & engineers (metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, semiconductors, thin films, coatings), process/scale‑up & manufacturing engineers, CMC in materials for life sciences, QA/QC, failure analysis, test & characterisation, sustainability/LCAs, and materials informatics/data roles in the UK.
Materials science has always been an interdisciplinary field, sitting at the crossroads of physics, chemistry & engineering. But in the UK today, as the demand for sustainable technologies, advanced composites & biomedical innovations grows, materials science careers are becoming even more multidisciplinary.
Employers are now looking beyond technical expertise. Success in modern materials roles increasingly requires awareness of law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design. These five areas shape how new materials are researched, applied, communicated and trusted in society.
This article explores why materials science careers in the UK are becoming more multidisciplinary, how these fields intersect with scientific practice, and what job-seekers & employers should do to adapt.
Materials science is a multidisciplinary field at the intersection of chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, and data science. In the UK, advances in materials science are powering innovation in sectors such as aerospace, defence, electronics, energy storage, healthcare, and sustainable manufacturing. Whether you are aiming for a role in R&D, testing, manufacturing, or product development, understanding how a materials science department is structured—and what each role does—can help you make informed decisions in your career or hiring.
Below is a detailed guide to modern materials science team structures: roles and responsibilities, how they collaborate throughout the lifecycle of materials, required skills and qualifications, typical UK salary ranges, trends, challenges, and best practices for building strong teams that deliver reliable materials solutions.
Materials science is no longer just a specialised academic discipline—it’s a frontier of innovation powering industries from aerospace and electronics to healthcare and sustainability. Whether it’s designing nanomaterials for ultrasensitive sensors, developing eco-friendly composites for lightweight vehicles, or engineering cutting-edge battery materials, the field sits at the heart of technological progress.
This pivotal role is increasingly reflected in recruitment trends. Companies and public institutions across manufacturing, energy, defence, healthcare, and more are seeking talent with deep knowledge of material properties, production methods, and characterisation tools.
The United Kingdom is exceptionally well placed to become the world’s next materials science jobs hub. With its world-class universities, historic and modern industrial base, growing emphasis on sustainable technologies, and ambitious government strategy, the UK sets the stage for both career-seekers and employers to thrive. This article explores the current landscape, strength pillars, job dynamics, regional opportunities, and the actions needed to secure global leadership in materials science jobs.
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