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Materials Scientist
Applications open
Your mission
£24,500 + BENEFITS | 12-MONTH PLACEMENT
If you’re interested in materials behaviour and want to get stuck into research that plays a pivotal role in UK security, then this role provides the perfect opportunity.
Materials and Analytics Science at AWE is all about making sure the UK’s nuclear deterrent stays reliable and ready. It’s the science behind the scenes, studying everything from metals and ceramics to explosive and radioactive components.
Our work is of the highest national security so you must be a British Citizen to apply.
WHAT DISCIPLINES MAY FIT THE ROLE BEST?
- Materials Science or Chemistry with a passion for materials development and/or analytical Chemistry
LOCATION: ALDERMASTON NEAR READING
You’ll be based at our Aldermaston site near Reading.
We work a nine-day fortnight. That means every other Friday off work & 270 hours of annual leave.
SKILLS YOU’LL NEED TO DEMONSTRATE
• Growth mindset
• Curiosity
• Innovation
• Resilience
• Teamwork
The opportunity
Explore the science behind the materials that help support the UK’s national security.
Materials play a critical role in the performance, reliability, and longevity of complex technologies. Within Materials Science, you’ll help investigate how a wide range of materials behave, age, and perform in different environments, contributing to work that supports the UK’s national security mission.
You’ll join a team of scientists and engineers working across specialist laboratories and research facilities, studying everything from metals, ceramics, and polymers to advanced foams, adhesives, energetic materials, and radioactive substances. Through research, testing, and analysis, the team develops the understanding needed to predict material behaviour and ensure long-term reliability.
This placement is ideal for students studying Materials Science, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline who are passionate about research, innovation, and solving complex scientific challenges.
What you’ll learn
X-RAY CT | CODING | CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
During your placement, you could:
- Investigate and develop advanced materials, including foams, aerogels, and inorganic compounds, for use in cutting-edge scientific and engineering applications.
- Support research into safer and more sustainable manufacturing methods by exploring alternative materials and chemical processes.
- Characterise materials using a range of analytical techniques to understand their chemical, physical, structural, and mechanical properties.
- Develop and apply laboratory methods to assess organic, inorganic, and metallic materials, using techniques such as spectroscopy, thermal analysis, elemental analysis, rheology, and mechanical testing.
- Contribute to synthetic chemistry projects, including the preparation, purification, and evaluation of specialist chemical compounds and manufacturing processes.
- Design and conduct experiments to improve our understanding of how materials behave within complex multi-material systems.
- Use advanced microscopy, imaging, and analytical techniques to investigate material performance and support engineering and scientific programmes.
- Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and external partners to solve real-world technical challenges and communicate research findings.
You’ll gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment, develop strong experimental and analytical skills, and work on projects that have genuine scientific and operational impact.
This is an exciting opportunity to apply your academic knowledge to real-world challenges, contribute to innovative research, and develop the skills needed for a career in science, engineering, or advanced technology.
