About This Role
This role is for a hands-on Chemist to own the chemistry for booster and propulsion materials, from selection to production support and in-service performance. The work involves characterising energetic and non-energetic materials, planning and running compatibility studies, and providing data for hazard assessments. It suits an individual with broad and deep technical capability, strong judgment, and the ability to operate autonomously in a fast-moving, prototype-heavy environment.
Responsibilities
- Own the chemistry for booster and propulsion materials, from material selection and qualification through to production support and in-service performance
- Characterise energetic and non-energetic materials, including polymers, adhesives, liners, and composites, using thermal, spectroscopic, chromatographic, and mechanical methods
- Plan and run compatibility, stability, and ageing studies, and use the results to predict service life and support safety decisions
- Carry out and interpret sensitiveness and thermal stability testing, and provide data for hazard assessments and hazard classification
- Work closely with stress and design teams to provide material properties, assess how materials degrade, and support analysis and design decisions
- Specify, qualify, and technically manage material suppliers and test laboratories, including incoming inspection and acceptance criteria
- Investigate material failures, anomalies, and non-conformances, find the root cause, and give clear disposition advice
- Help set up and run safe laboratory operations for energetic and hazardous materials, working with the HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) and Quality teams
- Manage chemical compliance, including hazardous substances, safety data sheets, and REACH/CLP obligations
- Write clear, traceable test procedures, material specifications, and reports under configuration control
Requirements
- A hands-on Chemist with experience in energetic materials, propellants, polymers, or other high-performance materials for aerospace or defence
- Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science (or a related discipline)
- Practical experience with analytical methods such as DSC, TGA, FTIR, GC-MS, HPLC, DMA, or rheology, and turning the results into engineering decisions
- Experience with material compatibility, stability, or ageing studies, ideally in a safety-critical setting
- A strong safety mindset and experience working with hazardous materials under formal safety rules
- Comfortable making sound scientific judgements with incomplete data in fast-moving, prototype-heavy environments, without compromising on safety
Nice to have:
- A PhD or other postgraduate qualification
