Principal Scientist

Principal Scientist / Engineer – Battery Materials

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

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About the Role

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

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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.

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The role would suit either:

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

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What You'll Be Responsible For:

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Technical Leadership

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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You'll bring:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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