Principal Scientist

Job description

Principal Scientist / Engineer – Battery Materials

Permanent | Sedgefield | £49,045 – £65,045

About the Role

We are seeking a Principal Scientist / Engineer to join a growing technology team focused on battery materials, process development, and scale-up activities.

This is a senior technical leadership role that combines scientific expertise, project delivery, customer engagement, and capability development. You'll act as a recognised subject matter expert, leading complex technical programmes while helping shape future technology strategy and developing capability across the wider team.

The role would suit either:

• A Principal Scientist with experience operating and developing pilot-scale processes and equipment, or
• A Principal Engineer with strong industrial experience in battery materials, scale-up, commissioning, and process delivery.

Beyond technical expertise, we're looking for someone who can lead projects, influence stakeholders, and potentially develop into a people leadership role as the team continues to grow.

What You'll Be Responsible For:

Technical Leadership

• Act as a recognised expert in battery materials and associated technologies
• Provide technical leadership across large-scale and complex R&D programmes
• Translate technical insight into practical solutions and future technology opportunities
• Support the development of technology strategy and future capability plans

Project Delivery & Scale-Up

• Lead complex technical projects from concept through to delivery
• Oversee pilot-scale activities and process development programmes
• Support commissioning, operation, and optimisation of pilot equipment and development facilities
• Apply technical expertise to solve challenging real-world engineering and scientific problems

Innovation & Capability Development

• Identify emerging technical developments and market opportunities
• Support the creation of new technologies, services, and applications
• Drive capability building within battery materials and energy storage technologies
• Mentor and develop colleagues across the team and wider organisation

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with customers, partners, and industry stakeholders
• Represent the organisation externally as a technical expert
• Support customer meetings, collaborative projects, and business development opportunities
• Actively contribute to proposal development and technical bid activities

Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with commercial, technical, and project management teams
• Influence technical direction across multidisciplinary programmes
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and capability development across the organisation
• Support future team growth and, for the right candidate, develop towards broader people leadership responsibilities

About You:

You are a senior scientist or engineer with strong technical expertise and the ability to lead complex projects in industrial, pilot-scale, or technology development environments.

You'll bring:

• Significant industrial experience in battery materials, advanced materials, process development, or related technologies
• Experience leading complex technical projects and multidisciplinary activities
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to deliver innovative solutions
• Experience working in pilot-scale, scale-up, commissioning, or development environments
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• The ability to influence and build relationships across technical and commercial teams

For Principal Scientists:

• Experience operating or developing pilot-scale processes and equipment
• Strong scientific understanding of battery materials, inorganic chemistry, or related fields

For Principal Engineers:

• Experience commissioning, operating, and improving pilot or production equipment
• Strong understanding of process engineering and industrial scale-up activities

Desirable Experience

• Battery materials development
• Inorganic chemistry
• Electrochemistry
• Battery recycling technologies
• Pilot plant operations
• Battery tear-down and failure analysis
• Technology scale-up and commercialisation
• Chartered status or progression towards professional accreditation

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to play a key role in the development of next-generation battery technologies
• Influence future capability and technology strategy
• Lead high-profile projects with commercial and industrial impact
• Work within a collaborative, innovation-focused environment
• Competitive salary (£49,045 – £65,045)

Location & Working Pattern

• Based in Sedgefield
• Permanent position
• Hybrid working available depending on project requirements
• Frequent engagement with pilot facilities, project teams, and industry partners

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Scientist or Engineer looking to step into a highly influential technical leadership position. You'll work at the intersection of innovation, scale-up, and commercialisation, helping develop new battery technologies while shaping future capability and mentoring the next generation of technical specialists.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Sedgefield

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

20-08-2026

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English