Plasma Researcher

Location Kingston upon Hull, England Sector Engineering Salary Competitive Salary and enhanced benefits

Are you passionate about plasma physics and looking for the opportunity to see your scientific work directly influence live technology?

This is an opportunity to join a growing clean technology business developing specialist plasma systems for low-cost hydrogen production.

Unlike a traditional academic research environment, ideas can move from hypothesis to live testing extremely quickly, potentially within 24 hours.

You will work closely with the physical technology, analyse real development data and see your research progress through into practical testing.

What makes this role different

You will work alongside Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, using your scientific knowledge and data-analysis capability to help inform design decisions, test programmes and future technology development.

You will be given the autonomy and intellectual freedom to pursue credible hypotheses that address real technical challenges facing the business.

These currently include

• Improving the longevity and reliability of plasma torches.
• Understanding and optimising the wider balance of plant.
• Improving conversion performance and process efficiency.
• Investigating and preventing components from overheating.
• Identifying the physical causes behind unexpected test results.

You will join a technically curious and collaborative team, with weekly technical reviews, regular brainstorming and the opportunity to take ownership and grow quickly within the role.

Key responsibilities

• Research, review and summarise information from peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Analyse data generated through R&D testing and relate findings to known physical phenomena.
• Develop scripts, tools and analytical methods to process, visualise and interpret complex datasets.
• Form credible hypotheses and recommend further testing to prove or disprove them.
• Translate scientific findings into clear recommendations for Mechanical, Electrical and Test teams.
• Support the development of test regimes that improve understanding of plasma behaviour and system performance.
• Investigate issues relating to plasma stability, torch longevity, conversion performance and thermal management.
• Produce clear calculations, technical reports and evidence-based recommendations.
• Follow research through into live physical testing and evaluate the results.
• Share technical knowledge across UK and international research teams.
• Work in line with health, safety, environmental and quality procedures.
• Protect confidential technical information and intellectual property.

Skills and experience

You will need

• An MEng in Physics, Engineering or a closely related scientific discipline.
• Strong knowledge of plasma physics.
• Experience using Python, MATLAB or equivalent scientific data-analysis software.
• Experience developing scripts or tools for data processing and analysis.
• Experience working within a laboratory, experimental research, operational test or technology-development environment.
• The ability to interpret complex datasets and connect results to underlying scientific phenomena.
• Evidence of personally owning a meaningful research, experimental or data-analysis project.
• The ability to communicate scientific findings clearly to multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Confidence working autonomously and deciding how best to investigate technical problems.
• A proactive, curious and evidence-led approach to research.

High-temperature or thermal plasma experience would be particularly relevant.

However, candidates from wider plasma disciplines will also be considered, as significant elements of technology can be taught.

Relevant backgrounds could include

• Thermal or arc plasma
• Plasma propulsion
• Fusion or plasma diagnostics
• Gas discharge physics
• High-voltage plasma systems
• Plasma processing
• Experimental plasma physics

Direct experience of hydrogen production is not essential.

Location and working pattern

This is a permanent, site-based role in Hull, working standard business hours.

Flexible working arrangements may be available where operational and testing requirements allow.

Salary and benefits

• 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
• 5% employer pension contribution.
• Paid breaks, with employees paid for eight hours while working 7.5 hours.
• Free food provided every working day, including bento boxes, sandwiches and salads.
• Share scheme linked to length of service.
• Family-friendly policies.
• Employee Assistance Programme supporting health and wellbeing.
• Retail discounts and employee perks.
• Eye-care support.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Significant opportunity for professional development and progression within a fast-moving R&D environment.

Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK.

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