At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative materials development projects across global applications.
- Company: Join a cutting-edge materials technology business with a focus on R&D.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for international travel.
- Other info: Collaborate with international teams and enjoy excellent career growth.
- Why this job: Take ownership of impactful projects in high-performance product applications.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in materials development and a relevant degree.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
We’re supporting an innovative materials technology business looking for a Materials Development Project Leader to lead the delivery of international materials development programmes across high-performance product applications. This is a materials-led project role, suited to someone with a strong Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemistry or Polymer background who has developed their career within industrial R&D/materials development and is looking to take greater ownership of technical projects.
The Role
You’ll lead materials development projects from early-stage R&D through testing, scale-up, pre-production and launch, working with technical teams, suppliers and manufacturing partners across the UK, Europe, USA and Asia. Projects cover a range of applications including impact protection, military and sports helmets, performance footwear, tactical equipment and protective clothing.
Responsibilities will include:
- Leading materials development projects and owning timelines, milestones and technical deliverables
- Coordinating R&D, testing, engineering, manufacturing, sourcing and supply chain teams
- Working with international materials suppliers and development partners
- Reviewing experimental plans and technical data to guide project decisions
- Supporting troubleshooting and root-cause analysis
- Ensuring materials meet performance, cost and manufacturability requirements
- Supporting projects through scale-up and production
- Travelling to China approximately once per quarter, typically for 7-10 days
About You
We’re looking for someone with:
- 5+ years' industrial materials development experience
- Degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science or similar
- Experience with polymers, polyurethane, TPEs, elastomers, foams, rubbers or related materials
- Experience leading or coordinating materials/R&D development projects
- Supplier and manufacturing exposure
- Strong technical and commercial problem-solving skills
- Confidence coordinating cross-functional and international teams
You don't need to be a career Project Manager. This could be a great next step for an experienced Materials Scientist, Materials Engineer or Materials Development Engineer who has already taken ownership of projects and wants to move further into project leadership.
Working pattern: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday onsite in South London, with flexibility to work remotely Monday and Friday.
Materials Development Project Leader in Croydon employer: Cranleigh STEM, Sustainability Recruitment
As a leading engineering firm, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to excel in their roles. Our commitment to professional development ensures that you will have ample opportunities for growth and advancement, while our focus on sustainability aligns with meaningful contributions to the industry. Located in a vibrant area, we offer a supportive environment where your expertise as a Precision Quality Inspector & CMM Specialist will be valued and rewarded.
Contact Details:
Cranleigh STEM, Sustainability Recruitment Recruitment Team
