Photovoltaics Research Scientist / Senior Research Scientist in North East

We're on an exciting journey to push the boundaries of solar energy - developing new technology and solutions that don't cost the earth. Tackling climate change is no easy task, which is why we're always on the lookout for talented individuals who share our commitment to making a real difference.

About Power Roll: At Power Roll we are focused on delivering innovative solar energy solutions that don’t cost the earth. Our solar film is unique, made from abundantly available materials and using low energy roll-to-roll production methods. We are a dedicated and highly motivated team getting ready to grow our business, we employ talented people with a shared enthusiasm for, and commitment to, delivering truly sustainable results.

Power Roll is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We particularly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented in STEM, including women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled or neurodivergent people. We recognise that relevant expertise can be gained through academic, industrial, technical or interdisciplinary career paths, and we will consider equivalent experience where it demonstrates the required capability.

About the Role: We’re currently looking to recruit a Research Scientist / Senior Research Scientist to be based at the pilot facility in County Durham. The successful candidate will work in a hands-on R&D and pilot-line environment, helping to translate laboratory learning into scalable processes and real-world product, with a focus on one or more of the following areas:

• Perovskite materials and formulations
• Interface engineering and surface science
• Thin-film vacuum coating of functional layers
• Materials, thin-film, device and module characterisation and modelling
• Encapsulation and testing of performance and stability of cells and modules, single junction and tandems

Working Pattern: Permanent - Full Time – On site – Flexible options available. Job Location: Power Roll Ltd, Groove House, Unit 5 Jade Business Park, Murton, SR7 9DR, UK. Full Time – 37.5 hours per week – Monday to Friday.

Main responsibilities: Your work will focus on various aspects of the following, depending on your skills and experience:

• Develop, optimise and characterise perovskite materials, ink formulations and coating techniques for PRL photovoltaic devices and modules, with a focus on transfer from sheet-to-sheet to roll-to-roll processes.
• Develop and optimise interface-engineering approaches, including surface treatments, interlayers, charge transport layers, self-assembled monolayers and related physical or chemical approaches for PRL photovoltaic devices and modules.
• Develop and optimise thin-film vacuum coating processes for material deposition and treatment of PRL photovoltaic devices and modules.
• Develop and optimise encapsulation materials and processes for PRL photovoltaic devices and modules, and their stability testing in real world and accelerated ageing conditions.
• Drive characterisation of materials and devices, data analysis and device modelling with the aim of identifying trends, bottlenecks, development areas and solutions.
• Analyse experimental datasets using statistically relevant methods, identify trends, interpret results, draw conclusions and propose clear next steps.
• Identify technical bottlenecks and recommend or implement strategies to address them.
• Identify, plan and support work with external partners to help achieve PRL’s technical and commercial goals.
• Prepare and implement relevant Health & Safety and process documentation.
• Support the capture of company intellectual property, know-how and technical learning.
• Promote good laboratory practice, high-quality record keeping and data integrity across the team.
• For Senior Research Scientist appointments, provide technical leadership in one or more areas, train and mentor junior staff, provide formal and informal line management, shape development strategy, identify and secure required resources, and manage internal and external projects.

About you: PhD or EngD in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Electronic Engineering or a closely related field. Candidates with equivalent experience will be considered. At least 3 years (10 years for senior positions) relevant laboratory/industrial R&D experience in photovoltaics, thin films, optoelectronic materials, semiconductor devices or a closely related field. Experience planning development trials, critically analysing and interpreting data using statistically relevant methods, identifying bottlenecks, and recommending or implementing strategies to address them. Excellent communication & presentation skills with the ability to write clear, concise reports. Strong organisational and time management skills. Ability to work collaboratively with scientists, engineers and technical leads to develop materials, processes and device stacks suitable for scalable PV module development. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Where appropriate, Power Roll will consider whether immigration sponsorship options are available for the role, subject to role eligibility and business requirements. Experience working with flexible substrates such as PET, especially in roll-to-roll processes. Experience working in an industrial R&D environment. Experience using automated or scripted analysis workflows for large experimental datasets, e.g. Python or LabView. Experience in perovskite solar cells and modules development, single junction or tandem architectures.

Power Roll offers: Competitive salary, depending on experience. 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays with the opportunity to purchase more. Pension salary sacrifice scheme. Personalised EV salary sacrifice scheme. A full-time, permanent role with an ambitious company with real purpose.