Principal Material and Process Engineer, Composites

Nethercote
3 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Structures Inspector

Principal Structures and Materials Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

Senior Structural and Mechanical Systems Engineer

Principal HVAC Design Engineer

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's "World's best companies 2024" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.

You will be the lead Materials and Process (M&P) Specialist within a team developing new composite products and processing technologies. In particular, you will lead the introduction of a novel composite material system, produced using a high-rate manufacturing process that is new to the aerospace sector. This is a pivotal role within our engineering team, offering the opportunity to work in a challenging, fast-paced, and innovative environment.

What will your day-to-day responsibilities look like?

*Authoring material and processing specifications for resin, fibre, composite processes, inspection, and assembly.
*Specifying detailed test plans for physical, chemical, and mechanical property characterisation.
*Developing new coupon and element-level test methods to address gaps in ASTM and other industry standards.
*Performing statistical analysis of test results and producing high-quality technical reports suitable for customer submission.
*Ensuring compliance with national and global chemical legislation (e.g., REACh).
*Keeping business strategy aligned with the latest emerging M&P technologies.
*Defining, with support from metallic M&P experts, specific metals and associated processes (e.g., heat treatment, corrosion protection).
*Providing effective problem-solving support for M&P-related issues.

Essential skills:

*Excellent knowledge of Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs), including matrix types, fibres, manufacturing technologies, and in-service performance.
*Experience authoring M&P specifications for composite material systems.
*Experience working with OEMs and/or regulators to certify PMC materials and structures for aerospace applications.

Desirable skills:

*Knowledge of dry fibre processing and resin infusion technologies.
*Experience developing test methods for PMC material characterisation.
*Familiarity with thermal analysis methods, including DSC and DMA.
*Degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
*Highly motivated, with the ability to work on their own initiative
*Hands-on approach to developing processes and methods.
*Clear, collaborative, and open communication skills
*Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to work in a dynamic, inclusive team culture
*In-depth understanding of statistical analysis.
*Comprehensive grounding in solid mechanics and first-principle analysis
*Interest in contributing to industry working groups such as ASTM D30 and CMH-17

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How Many Materials Science Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Materials Science Job?

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.

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Materials Science Job Applications (UK Guide)

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.

The Skills Gap in Materials Science Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

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.