Energetic Materials Scientist

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?
For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK s ultimate deterrent - Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.
It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?
AWE is currently recruiting for an experienced Energetic Materials Scientist , working within our Explosive Materials and Initiation Science (ExMIS) group.
Energetic Materials Scientist
Location: Aldermaston, Reading
Salary: £ 36,640 - £54,960 (dependant on suitability and level of experience)
Closing Date: 28th June 2024
As part of our People Promise, AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• Time to recharge your batteries with 270 hours of annual leave (plus every other Friday off work as part of a 9 day working fortnight)
  
• Consideration for flexible working arrangements so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time.
  
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training.
  
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
  
• A generous defined contribution Group Personal Pension (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution).
  
• Life Assurance.
  
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
  
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring for your family.
  
• A host of voluntary & core benefits to suit your health and wellbeing - more information available on our careers website.
  

This role will utilise your skills to play a key role in developing and understanding explosive materials. We are seeking an experienced person, who can support and lead in the scale up and development of chemical formulations from grams to kilograms. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with extensive experience and knowledge in the field of materials development, and in particular formulation and characterisation of explosives.
Applying your expertise, your work will focus on the research and development of new explosive materials while simultaneously working alongside our analytical and safety teams to lead the characterisation and assessment of the suitability of these materials.
It is desirable that candidates can demonstrate the following:

• PhD level knowledge of a relevant Chemistry or Chemical engineering discipline and/or extensive experience in formulations chemistry within the explosives industry
  
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, and excellent team working ability
  
• Experience leading the development and characterisation of materials using a range of different processing techniques
  
• Broad experience in a range of analytical techniques including particle size measurement, thermal characterisation and spectroscopy
  
• Broad understanding of working with hazardous materials and health & safety
  
• Willing to travel and work at other UK Sites as required
  
• An understanding of Safe Systems of Work (operating instructions, risk assessments, COSHH assessments, manual handling assessments)
  
• Good laboratory practice and problem solving/troubleshooting ability
  

It is expected that candidates can demonstrate the following personal attributes:

• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
  
• Ability to work with others collaboratively in a cross-team environment
  
• Enthusiastic, positive, proactive, with a flexible attitude and able to take the initiative
  
• Appreciating the need for safety, quality and regulatory requirements
  

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to work in explosive designated areas.
Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.