QA & QC Chemist
Location: Lambeth, South West London (laboratory-based / in-person role)
Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm (37.5 hours per week)
Salary: £28,000–£32,000 gross per year (depending on experience)
About Metalchemy®
Metalchemy is a UK-based SME developing and manufacturing sustainable chemical products for use in cosmetics, active packaging, healthcare, and advanced materials applications.
We specialise in patented, plant-based chemical processes designed to be scalable, commercially viable, and environmentally responsible. Our mission is to transform innovative science into reliable products, manufacturing processes, and customer outcomes that create meaningful environmental and commercial impact.
As a science-led business operating across research, manufacturing, product development, and commercial deployment, quality, traceability, and scientific integrity are fundamental to everything we do. We believe robust systems, reproducible science, and operational excellence are essential for successfully translating innovation into products that customers can trust.
As our laboratory operations continue to grow, we are seeking a hands-on QA & QC Chemist to become Metalchemy's independent quality function, helping ensure our laboratory outputs, manufacturing activities, customer deliverables, and quality systems remain scientifically robust, traceable, reproducible, and fit for purpose.
About the Role
We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented QA & QC Chemist to take ownership of quality assurance, quality control, traceability, and quality systems activities across the business.
This role combines laboratory quality assurance, quality control, technical review, auditing, method validation, traceability, risk management, and continuous improvement. You will work closely with laboratory staff and the Laboratory Manager to independently verify laboratory activities, investigate quality issues, challenge assumptions where appropriate, and ensure scientific outputs are supported by robust evidence and effective quality controls.
You will be responsible for operating and continually improving Metalchemy's Quality Management System while independently verifying laboratory outputs through QC testing, audits, investigations, validation studies, and technical review.
This is not a purely administrative role. The successful candidate will actively participate in laboratory activities, quality investigations, equipment compliance, method validation, customer-facing quality review, and preparation for future certification and accreditation activities including ISO 17025 and B Corp.
This position offers significant responsibility and ownership with the opportunity to develop into future Quality Systems, Laboratory Operations, Technical Compliance, or QA Leadership roles as the company grows.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Systems & Compliance
- Own the day-to-day operation and continual improvement of Metalchemy's Quality Management System (ISO 9001).
- Ensure quality systems, procedures, records, and controls are implemented, maintained, and actively used across laboratory and business operations.
- Lead internal audits, NCRs, CAPAs, training and competency systems, supplier quality programmes, risk assessments, COSHH reviews, and preparation for external audits and future certifications including ISO 17025 and B Corp.
- Monitor quality performance, identify gaps, and drive corrective actions and system improvements.
- Promote understanding, adoption, and consistent application of Metalchemy's Quality Policy, Quality Management System, and quality objectives across laboratory and business operation
Quality Assurance & Technical Verification
- Perform independent QC testing, verification studies, repeat analyses, validation experiments, and laboratory spot-checks.
- Independently assess laboratory data, methods, calculations, technical conclusions, and customer-facing outputs.
- Investigate quality issues, challenge unsupported conclusions, and ensure scientific outputs are reproducible, traceable, and supported by robust evidence.
- Support development, validation, transfer, and continual improvement of analytical methods, QC procedures, and quality controls.
- Review and provide independent quality input on experimental plans, testing protocols, risk assessments, study designs, validation plans, acceptance criteria, and customer-facing project work prior to final Laboratory Manager approval.
Traceability, Documentation & Quality Review
- Maintain oversight of laboratory traceability systems, LIMS records, inventory controls, sample tracking, batch records, and quality documentation.
- Prepare, review, and approve quality-critical documentation including Certificates of Analysis (CoAs), Safety Data Sheets (SDS/MSDS), Technical Data Sheets (TDS), technical reports, supplier documentation, and quality records.
- Review customer-facing reports, product specifications, and technical deliverables before release.
- Ensure laboratory activities remain fully traceable, auditable, and supported by complete records.
Laboratory Operations & Continuous Improvement
- Maintain equipment calibration, maintenance, qualification, and compliance programmes.
- Conduct laboratory inspections and verify compliance with approved procedures, quality controls, and safety requirements.
- Maintain inventory quality controls, approved supplier systems, and operational quality records.
- Identify opportunities to improve quality, traceability, efficiency, safety, and operational performance.
- Lead implementation of new systems, procedures, technologies, and best practices as the business grows.
Qualifications & Profile
Essential
- BSc or MSc in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Analytical Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
- 1-3 years of laboratory experience within industrial, manufacturing, analytical, formulation, research, quality, or regulated environments.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality scientific work.
- Excellent documentation, organisational, and record-keeping skills.
- Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving ability.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of responsibilities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Comfortable working both at the laboratory bench and within quality systems.
- Confident user of Microsoft 365 and digital documentation systems.
Desirable
- Experience working within ISO 9001, GMP, ISO 17025, or similar quality environments.
- Experience conducting internal audits.
- Familiarity with NCRs, CAPAs, root cause analysis, and quality investigations.
- Experience with laboratory traceability systems and LIMS.
- Experience reviewing CoAs, SDS/MSDS, Technical Data Sheets, and quality documentation.
- Knowledge of COSHH, risk assessments, and laboratory safety systems.
- Experience supporting method validation, verification, or QC testing activities.
- Experience working within manufacturing, chemicals, cosmetics, packaging, healthcare, or materials science sectors.
What Success Looks Like in the First 90 Days
- Develop a strong understanding of Metalchemy's products, laboratory workflows, manufacturing activities, and Quality Management System.
- Independently conduct internal audits, quality reviews, and traceability checks.
- Demonstrate confidence reviewing laboratory records, reports, and quality-critical outputs.
- Successfully manage NCRs, CAPAs, and quality investigations.
- Perform independent QC verification testing and laboratory spot-checks.
- Identify and implement at least one meaningful improvement to a quality, traceability, or laboratory process.
Why Join Metalchemy?
- Join a growing science-led company developing innovative technologies with measurable environmental and commercial impact.
- Take ownership of a critical function with visibility across laboratory, manufacturing, quality, and commercial activities.
- Gain exposure to R&D, manufacturing, quality systems, customer projects, supplier management, and operational excellence.
- Help shape the future quality framework of the business, including ISO 17025 and future accreditation initiatives.
- Significant responsibility and ownership from an early stage in your career.
- Strong professional development and progression opportunities based on performance.
- 30 days annual leave including bank holidays.
Application Process
If you are a practical, detail-oriented scientist with a passion for quality, scientific integrity, laboratory excellence, and continuous improvement, we would love to hear from you.
When applying, please briefly describe a situation where you identified a quality issue, challenged an unexpected result, improved a laboratory process, or implemented a change that improved the reliability, traceability, or quality of scientific work.
Metalchemy® is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
