Industries We Serve
Deep technical expertise across nine core sectors in advanced materials and engineering. We understand the science — because we come from this world.
Advanced Ceramics
Technical ceramics, structural ceramics, ceramic coatings, alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide, silicon nitride. Companies developing high-performance ceramic components for aerospace, medical, electronics, and industrial applications.
The UK advanced ceramics sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by demand from aerospace, defence, medical devices, and electronics. With applications ranging from thermal barrier coatings in jet engines to biocompatible implants, the industry requires engineers who understand sintering kinetics, microstructural control, and mechanical property optimisation. We recruit across the full lifecycle — from R&D scientists developing novel compositions to process engineers scaling production.
Increased demand for high-purity alumina substrates in electronics, growth in silicon carbide components for extreme environments, and expansion of ceramic additive manufacturing are creating new roles that didn't exist five years ago.
Typical clients: FTSE 250 ceramics manufacturers, specialist SMEs, university spinouts, and multinational component suppliers
Roles We Fill
- Ceramics Engineers
- Sintering Process Engineers
- Materials Scientists (Oxide/Non-oxide)
- Quality Engineers (Failure Analysis)
- Applications Engineers
- R&D Scientists
- Technical Sales Engineers
Battery Technology & Energy Storage
Gigafactory recruitment, battery cell engineering, cathode/anode materials, electrolyte chemistry, cell testing, module/pack design, battery management systems. Supporting the UK's growing gigafactory pipeline.
With AESC and Agratas building gigafactories in the UK, demand for battery engineers is accelerating rapidly. The transition from laboratory-scale research to volume manufacturing requires a unique blend of electrochemistry knowledge, process engineering capability, and quality systems expertise. We understand the difference between a cell chemist optimising NMC cathode formulations and a pack engineer designing thermal management systems — and we recruit for both.
The UK's gigafactory pipeline represents billions of pounds in investment and thousands of new engineering roles. Solid-state battery development, sodium-ion chemistry, and battery recycling are emerging specialisms creating acute talent shortages.
Typical clients: Gigafactory operators, VC-backed battery startups, automotive OEMs, energy storage companies, and battery recycling firms
Roles We Fill
- Battery Cell Engineers
- Electrochemists
- Cell Testing Engineers
- Module/Pack Design Engineers
- BMS Engineers
- Process Engineers (Electrode Coating, Cell Assembly)
- Materials Scientists (Cathode/Anode)
- Quality Engineers
Advanced Composites
Carbon fibre, glass fibre, polymer matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites. Roles in aerospace, automotive, wind energy, and defence.
The UK has world-leading capability in advanced composites, anchored by the National Composites Centre and major aerospace programmes. From carbon fibre prepreg layup for aircraft structures to ceramic matrix composites for turbine components, the sector demands engineers who understand fibre architecture, resin systems, and manufacturing processes including autoclave, RTM, and automated fibre placement.
Thermoplastic composites for recyclability, out-of-autoclave processing for cost reduction, and digital twin technology for composite design are reshaping recruitment needs. The wind energy sector's demand for large-scale composite structures continues to grow.
Typical clients: Tier 1 aerospace suppliers, defence contractors, wind turbine manufacturers, automotive OEMs, and motorsport engineering firms
Roles We Fill
- Composites Engineers
- Stress Engineers (Composites)
- Process Engineers (Autoclave, RTM, AFP)
- NDT Engineers
- Materials Scientists
- Design Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Quality Engineers
Semiconductor Materials
Compound semiconductors (SiC, GaN), wide-bandgap materials, substrate manufacturing, epitaxy, thin-film deposition. Bridging materials science and semiconductor fabrication.
The compound semiconductor sector sits at the intersection of materials science and electronics, requiring engineers who understand both crystal growth and device physics. The UK's strength in III-V semiconductors, silicon carbide substrates, and gallium nitride epitaxy creates demand for specialists who can bridge the gap between materials development and volume wafer production.
The global shift toward wide-bandgap semiconductors for EV power electronics and 5G/6G communications is driving significant investment in UK compound semiconductor manufacturing. Government-backed initiatives are accelerating domestic capability.
Typical clients: Compound semiconductor foundries, substrate manufacturers, device fabricators, and university research centres
Roles We Fill
- Crystal Growth Engineers
- Epitaxy Engineers (MOCVD, MBE)
- Process Engineers (Thin Film, Etch, Lithography)
- Materials Characterisation Scientists
- Substrate Engineers
- Device Physicists
- Cleanroom Process Engineers
- Quality Engineers
Coatings & Surface Engineering
Thermal spray, PVD/CVD, plasma coatings, corrosion protection, functional surfaces. Industrial and aerospace applications.
Surface engineering is critical across aerospace, energy, automotive, and industrial sectors. Whether it's thermal barrier coatings protecting turbine blades at 1,500°C or diamond-like carbon coatings reducing friction in automotive powertrains, the field requires engineers who understand plasma physics, coating microstructure, and substrate-coating interactions at a fundamental level.
Advanced environmental barrier coatings for ceramic matrix composites, nanostructured coatings for wear resistance, and sustainable alternatives to hard chrome plating are driving innovation and creating new specialist roles.
Typical clients: Aerospace MRO providers, coating service companies, industrial equipment manufacturers, and surface engineering R&D centres
Roles We Fill
- Coatings Engineers (PVD/CVD)
- Thermal Spray Engineers
- Surface Scientists
- Corrosion Engineers
- Process Engineers
- Applications Engineers
- R&D Scientists
- Quality Engineers (Coating Characterisation)
Additive Manufacturing
3D printing of metals, ceramics, and polymers. Process engineering, powder metallurgy, and design for additive.
Additive manufacturing is transitioning from prototyping to series production across aerospace, medical, and energy sectors. The field demands engineers who understand not just machine operation but the underlying materials science — powder characteristics, melt pool dynamics, residual stress management, and post-processing metallurgy. We recruit specialists who can bridge the gap between AM technology and production engineering.
Qualification of AM parts for flight-critical aerospace applications, multi-material printing, binder jetting of ceramics and metals, and the development of new alloy systems designed specifically for additive processes are creating acute demand for specialised engineers.
Typical clients: Aerospace OEMs, AM service bureaus, medical device manufacturers, powder suppliers, and AM machine builders
Roles We Fill
- AM Process Engineers
- Powder Metallurgists
- Design for Additive Engineers
- Materials Scientists (AM Alloys)
- Post-Processing Engineers
- Quality Engineers (CT Inspection, Metrology)
- Applications Engineers
- R&D Scientists
Chemical Manufacturing
Specialty chemicals, process chemistry, catalyst development, polymer chemistry, fine chemicals, and industrial scale-up from laboratory to production.
The UK chemical manufacturing sector spans fine and specialty chemicals, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals intermediates, and advanced functional materials. Roles in this space demand a rigorous grounding in organic, inorganic, or physical chemistry combined with engineering process knowledge. Whether scaling a novel catalyst system from gram-scale synthesis to tonne-scale continuous production, or optimising reaction kinetics in a pilot plant, we recruit scientists and engineers who understand chemistry at a molecular level and can translate that into manufacturable, safe, and economical processes.
Green chemistry and sustainable manufacturing are reshaping investment priorities, with demand growing for engineers experienced in continuous flow chemistry, bio-based feedstocks, and solvent reduction. The UK government's Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy is driving significant capital into low-carbon chemical processes, creating new specialist roles in carbon capture integration and electrification of chemical production.
Typical clients: Specialty and fine chemical manufacturers, agrochemical companies, contract manufacturing organisations, pharma API suppliers, and chemical distribution groups
Roles We Fill
- Process Chemists
- Chemical Engineers (Scale-up & Kilo Lab)
- Catalyst Development Scientists
- Reaction Engineering Specialists
- Formulation Scientists
- Quality & Regulatory Chemists
- EHS Engineers
- Technical Sales Managers (Specialty Chemicals)
Metallurgy & Metals
Alloy development, powder metallurgy, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, titanium, aluminium, steel, superalloys, and high-performance metal systems for demanding applications.
Metallurgy underpins almost every advanced manufacturing sector, from aerospace titanium components to high-strength steel structures in automotive and civil engineering. The UK's metals industry is undergoing a renaissance, driven by demand for high-value alloys in aerospace, energy, and defence. We recruit metallurgists and materials engineers who can navigate the full value chain — from alloy design and thermomechanical processing to failure analysis, corrosion management, and production quality. Our network spans physical metallurgy, process metallurgy, and welding metallurgy across a wide range of material systems.
Development of next-generation nickel superalloys for turbine temperatures beyond 1,700°C, lightweight aluminium-lithium alloys for aircraft structures, and high-entropy alloys with unprecedented combinations of strength and ductility are creating new specialist roles. Decarbonisation of steel and aluminium production through hydrogen and electrolysis is also attracting significant investment and talent demand.
Typical clients: Aerospace forging and casting houses, steel producers, titanium processors, powder metal suppliers, MRO providers, and advanced alloy developers
Roles We Fill
- Physical Metallurgists
- Process Metallurgists
- Welding & Joining Engineers
- Alloy Development Scientists
- Failure Analysis Engineers
- Corrosion Engineers
- Heat Treatment Engineers
- Quality Metallurgists
- R&D Scientists (Superalloys, Titanium, Aluminium)
Polymer Science
Thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, biopolymers, high-performance polymers, polymer processing, compounding, and formulation for industrial and consumer applications.
Polymers are among the most versatile and widely used engineering materials, with applications ranging from structural thermoplastics in aerospace to elastomeric seals in oil and gas, and biocompatible polymers in medical devices. The polymer science sector demands engineers and scientists who understand the relationship between molecular structure, processing conditions, and final part performance — from polymer synthesis and compounding through to injection moulding, extrusion, and thermoforming. We recruit across the full polymer value chain, from R&D scientists developing novel material systems to process engineers optimising high-volume production.
Circular economy imperatives are driving demand for expertise in polymer recycling, bio-based polymers, and chemical depolymerisation. High-performance thermoplastics such as PEEK and PPS are displacing metals in lightweighting applications. Additive manufacturing is opening new opportunities for specialist polymer formulation, including high-temperature filaments and photo-curable resins for structural applications.
Typical clients: Polymer compounders and masterbatch producers, specialty polymer manufacturers, medical device material suppliers, automotive tier suppliers, and high-performance polymer developers
Roles We Fill
- Polymer Scientists
- Formulation Chemists
- Compounding Engineers
- Process Engineers (Injection Moulding, Extrusion, Blow Moulding)
- Materials Scientists (Elastomers, Thermosets)
- R&D Scientists (Bio-based & Sustainable Polymers)
- Applications Engineers
- Quality Engineers (Polymer Testing & Characterisation)