Experimental Material Scientist in London

We are hiring an experienced synthesis and characterisation material scientist to join the team. You will run exploratory and targeted material synthesis, characterise structure and properties, and feed clean, well-documented data back into the AI-driven discovery loop. The role spans from the first synthesis of a novel composition through to the characterisation that tells us whether it is worth pursuing.

This brief is deliberately broad. We are interested in people from solid-state and inorganic chemistry to metallurgy provided they are strong hands-on synthesists with real characterisation depth. You will be joining a small, highly ambitious team of world-renowned engineers, AI researchers, and materials scientists. We move fast and value people who are energised by that.

What You'll Do

• Synthesise inorganic, intermetallic and alloyed materials using one or more established routes (for example solid-state reaction, arc-melting and melt processing, powder metallurgy, flux and crystal growth, solution methods, thin-film deposition).
• Determine structure and phase composition by X-ray diffraction, including powder XRD with Rietveld refinement and, where relevant, single-crystal methods.
• Characterise microstructure and chemistry using electron microscopy and related techniques (for example SEM-EDS/EBSD, TEM/STEM).
• Measure functional properties that determine commercial potential of the materials.
• Run exploratory synthesis campaigns guided by computational and AI models, and feed structured experimental results back to improve them.
• Develop reproducible, well-documented experimental workflows and contribute to the lab's data standards and its move toward higher-throughput.
• Collaborate across the computational, machine learning, and experimental teams to prioritise and de-risk the most promising compositions.

Skill & Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Metallurgy, Physics, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong hands-on experience synthesising inorganic, intermetallic, or alloy materials by one or more established routes.
• Demonstrated expertise in materials characterisation, in particular X-ray diffraction and phase analysis, together with at least one of electron microscopy, thermal analysis, or property measurement.
• A working understanding of structure, phase stability, and structure-property relationships in complex inorganic or metallic systems.
• Comfort with Python or a similar language for data handling and analysis.
• Excellent documentation, communication, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, evidenced by a research or development track record.

Nice to Have

• Experience with computational thermodynamics and phase modelling (for example CALPHAD, Thermo-Calc), or with AI and ML-guided materials discovery.
• Experience with additive manufacturing, powder processing, sintering, or scale-up and pilot-line development.
• Experience building or running higher-throughput or automated synthesis and characterisation.
• A record of translating computational predictions into experimentally validated materials.

Why Join Us

In the first months, you will be making and characterising candidate compositions on solid-state chemistry and metallurgy. You will close the loop between model proposals and laboratory confirmation. You will help set the synthesis and characterisation standards the platform runs on. There is significant room to grow toward synthesis, characterisation, or scale-up based on your strengths.

Diffractive is building the AI Material Scientist that autonomously learns from real-world experimentation to push the boundaries of scientific discovery. We're early, moving fast, and working on problems that genuinely matter. You’ll join a small, high-calibre team where your work has real impact from day one. We're London-based with a flexible approach to how and where you work. We offer competitive salary, generous equity and benefits. You’ll have a real stake in what you build and in the company's overall success.

Diffractive is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. If you require any adjustments or accommodations at any point during the interview process please let us know - we will be happy to help.