At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of innovative natural polymer coatings for various substrates.
- Company: Join MarinaTex, a pioneering biomaterials company on a mission to replace plastic.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, share options, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic start-up environment with opportunities for autonomy and career growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of sustainable materials science with direct access to leadership.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and hands-on experience in coating formulation required.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
MarinaTex is an advanced biomaterials company developing and supplying high-performance biomaterials and coatings as commercially scalable replacements for plastic. Our platform technology spans a broad range of natural, renewable biopolymers. We supply biomaterials as a product line in their own right, and convert them into functional coatings and materials that integrate into existing manufacturing and conversion infrastructure. We work across packaging, paper and board, agriculture, and other high-volume sectors, engineering plastic-free solutions that meet real performance and commercial requirements at industrial scale. Backed by strategic investors, we operate at the intersection of materials science, industrial formulation, and commercial deployment, partnering with global brands, manufacturers, and converters to bring natural materials into everyday products.
Role Description: MarinaTex develops high-performance natural polymer materials as commercially scalable replacements for plastic. We are hiring a Coatings & Product Development Scientist to establish and lead a new capability for MarinaTex: formulating and applying functional and barrier coatings onto paper, paperboard, film, and other substrates. You will lead coatings work, drive products from lab to pilot to commercial support, and contribute to biomaterials production, working closely with the Head of NPD, the wider team, and the CEO. Based at BioCity Scotland, accessible from both Glasgow and Edinburgh.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Formulate and optimise natural polymer coatings for paper, paperboard, film, and other substrates.
- Run coating trials and dial in method, coat weight, and drying; solve real formulation and process problems.
- Build barrier performance: grease and oil, moisture and water resistance, adhesion, film integrity.
- Test and benchmark coated substrates against plastic-based coatings (Cobb, KIT, WVTR, and more) to TAPPI, ASTM, and ISO.
- Support biomaterials production and technology transfer from lab to pilot and manufacturing, including converter and customer trials.
WHAT WE NEED
- Hands-on experience formulating or applying coatings to paper, board, or other substrates, in industry or applied R&D.
- A degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Coatings Technology, Paper Science, or a related field, or equivalent industrial experience. An MSc is desirable, not essential.
- A working grasp of coating principles: rheology, dispersion, wetting, adhesion, coat weight, and drying.
- Experience with one or more coating processes (rod, blade, roll, spray, gravure, slot-die, or curtain).
- Comfort across development and routine production in a fast-moving environment, with autonomy and ownership.
- Genuine motivation for the mission: replacing conventional plastics with high-performance natural alternatives.
- Comfortable using AI tools for reporting, documentation, and everyday technical work.
STRONG ADVANTAGE
- Packaging, paper and board, moulded fibre, or flexible packaging background.
- Water-based, bio-based, or natural polymer coatings, and barrier coating development.
- Scale-up experience and familiarity with contract coaters, paper mills, or converters.
WHY MARINATEX
Why a start-up over a larger materials company? Purpose, cutting-edge science, and scope. You will work at the forefront of natural polymer science, own our coatings capability from an early stage, and see your work run from lab through scale-up to commercial product, with real autonomy, direct access to leadership, and visible industrial and environmental impact. Competitive salary plus share options under our EMI scheme. Recruited at Scientist level; Senior Scientist considered for substantial directly relevant experience.
Coatings & Product Development Scientist in Motherwell employer: MarinaTex
MarinaTex is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of biomaterials innovation in a vibrant start-up environment. Located at BioCity Scotland, easily accessible from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, we foster a collaborative work culture that prioritises autonomy and direct access to leadership, empowering our employees to make a tangible impact in replacing conventional plastics with high-performance natural alternatives. With competitive salaries, share options, and a commitment to employee growth, MarinaTex is dedicated to nurturing talent and driving meaningful change in the materials science sector.
