At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects in polymer chemistry and develop next-gen materials.
- Company: Join CPI, a leader in advanced materials and sustainable technologies.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and the chance to shape future technologies.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for mentoring and technical excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in polymer science and lead exciting R&D programmes.
- Qualifications: Deep expertise in polymer chemistry and experience in pilot-scale processes.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
CPI is seeking an experienced Principal Scientist - Polymer Chemistry to join our established Nanomaterials & Composites Team within the Advanced Materials & Devices technology centre at NETPark, Sedgefield. This is a senior technical leadership role within one of CPI's largest and fastest-growing materials science groups.
The team delivers a broad portfolio of commercial and collaborative R&D projects across sustainable polymers, advanced coatings, nanomaterials, composites, battery materials, and future manufacturing technologies. Due to continued growth and major long-term programmes, CPI is looking to strengthen its expertise in polymer chemistry and scale-up.
A significant part of this role will involve supporting the development of next-generation polymer technologies, including projects focused on advanced fibre and materials manufacturing. We are particularly interested in candidates who combine deep polymer chemistry expertise with practical experience of scaling polymerisation processes from laboratory development through to pilot-scale operation.
This role offers the opportunity to lead high-profile, multi-year programmes while helping shape CPI's future capability within polymer chemistry and advanced materials.
What You'll Be Responsible For
- Technical Leadership & Project Delivery: Act as a recognised technical expert in polymer chemistry across CPI projects and programmes. Lead complex research, development, and scale-up activities from concept through to pilot-scale delivery. Provide technical leadership across projects ranging from short proof-of-concept studies through to multi-year strategic programmes.
- Polymer Synthesis & Process Development: Lead the development of novel polymer synthesis routes and polymer processing technologies. Design, execute, and oversee laboratory and pilot-scale polymerisation programmes. Support development and operation of pilot-scale reactors and polymer manufacturing equipment. Optimise polymer synthesis, reaction conditions, scaling strategies, and process performance.
- Technology Strategy & Innovation: Identify emerging scientific developments and future market opportunities. Translate technical trends into new capabilities, projects, and innovation programmes. Support the development of CPI's materials science and polymer technology strategy. Contribute to capability building within polymer chemistry, sustainable materials, and advanced manufacturing.
- Customer Engagement & Business Development: Work closely with Business Development and Bid Development teams to secure new commercial and collaborative projects. Contribute technical expertise to funding proposals, bids, and customer discussions. Act as a credible technical representative for CPI with customers, partners, and external stakeholders.
- Mentoring & Capability Development: Coach and mentor scientists and engineers across the organisation. Support knowledge sharing and development of technical excellence. Help shape future capability within polymer chemistry and materials science. Contribute to building a high-performing and collaborative technical culture.
About You
You are an experienced Polymer Chemist with deep technical expertise, industrial experience, and the ability to lead complex technical projects.
You will bring:
- Significant industrial experience in Polymer Chemistry.
- A degree, Master's, PhD, or equivalent experience in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Strong expertise in polymer synthesis and polymer process development.
- Experience operating at pilot scale and scaling processes into tens-of-litre reactor environments.
Particularly Relevant Experience:
We are especially interested in candidates with expertise in:
- Step-growth polymerisation (highly desirable)
- Radical polymerisation
- Pilot-scale or industrial-scale polymer synthesis
- Polymer process development
- Structure-property relationships
- Solution polymerisation
- Dispersed-phase polymerisation
- Reactor-based polymer manufacturing
- Scale-up and commercialisation of polymer technologies
Desirable Experience:
- Carbon fibre precursor development or related technologies
- Coatings, paints, adhesives, or composite materials
- Sustainable polymers and circular materials
- Advanced materials manufacturing
- Chartered status with a relevant professional institution
Why Join CPI?
Join one of CPI's largest and most established materials science teams. Play a leading role in major long-term advanced materials programmes. Work across sustainable materials, polymers, batteries, nanomaterials, and future manufacturing technologies.
The Opportunity
This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior polymer scientist looking to combine scientific excellence, pilot-scale development, technical leadership, and strategic influence. You will help deliver nationally significant materials programmes while shaping the future of polymer chemistry capability at CPI and supporting the development of next-generation advanced materials technologies.
Principal Scientist - Polymer Chemistry in Sedgefield employer: SRG
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