Materials Lab Technician

We are looking for a Materials Lab Technician to join our established team. To work in a supportive environment with a real emphasis on shared values and continuous improvement. Offering a competitive salary, benefits and a profit share scheme.

About Us: Creative, contemporary craftsmanship is the foundation for manufacturing luxury fabrics here at our mill in Sudbury, Suffolk, England. Our people are firmly at the heart of everything we do, and our culture is one where your passion can thrive, your skills can flourish, and your contributions can make a tangible difference. We are proud to be OEKO-TEX® STeP accredited and received a King’s Award for Sustainable Development in 2025, reflecting our commitment to responsible and sustainable manufacturing.

The Role: The best part of working at Sudbury Silk Mills is that no day is the same. As a Materials Lab Technician, you will play an important role in our materials, testing and dyeworks operations, working closely with the Materials Manager and Quality Assurance Coordinator. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with some relevant experience who is looking to develop their technical skills and build their knowledge within a specialist manufacturing environment.

• Developing and testing yarn dyeing recipes, including custom and stock colours, using laboratory equipment and sample vat machinery.
• Supporting the Quality Assurance Coordinator with materials testing and quality assurance of incoming materials.
• Recording, interpreting and communicating test results, supporting investigations and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Working collaboratively with the dyeworks, supply chain and wider business to support quality, efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Developing your knowledge and experience across colour development, materials testing, dyeing processes and the wider supply chain.

What you will bring:

• Some relevant experience within a laboratory, manufacturing, textiles, colour, quality or materials environment.
• Good colour perception, with the ability to assess and evaluate colour accurately.
• A precise and methodical approach, with strong attention to detail and the ability to follow procedures accurately.
• Good organisation, communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple pieces of work and work collaboratively with others.
• Experience or qualifications in chemistry, colour chemistry, textile manufacturing, textile design, textile dyeing or a related field would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of chemicals, dyeing processes or laboratory environments would also be beneficial, although training will be provided.

To succeed in the role, you will need:

• Curiosity and a willingness to learn – you will be keen to develop your technical knowledge and understand how different parts of our supply chain work together.
• A practical and positive approach – you will enjoy solving problems, finding better ways of working and getting involved across the business.
• A commitment to quality and safety – you will take pride in your work and understand the importance of accuracy, responsible working and attention to detail.

There are many benefits available to our people including financial benefits such as Company funded life insurance (4x salary), health cash plan, profit sharing scheme and salary sacrifice holiday purchase scheme. Along with more social benefits such as company organised social events, internal crafting clubs and involvement on the staff committee.

At Sudbury Silk Mills we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that the success of our Company is built on the talent, creativity, and perspectives of all individuals, and we actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We actively seek out diverse individuals who are dedicated to our values of building a great place to work. All candidates must have an existing right to work in the UK as we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship.