Permanent | Sedgefield | £49,045 - £65,045
About the Role
CPI is seeking a Principal Scientist / Engineer to join a growing technology team focused on battery materials, process development, and scale-up activities.
This is a senior technical leadership role that combines scientific expertise, project delivery, customer engagement, and capability development. You'll act as a recognised subject matter expert, leading complex technical programmes while helping shape future technology strategy and developing capability across the wider team.
The role would suit either:
A Principal Scientist with experience operating and developing pilot-scale processes and equipment, or
A Principal Engineer with strong industrial experience in battery materials, scale-up, commissioning, and process delivery.Beyond technical expertise, we're looking for someone who can lead projects, influence stakeholders, and potentially develop into a people leadership role as the team continues to grow.
What You'll Be Responsible For:
Technical Leadership
Act as a recognised expert in battery materials and associated technologies
Provide technical leadership across large-scale and complex R&D programmes
Translate technical insight into practical solutions and future technology opportunities
Support the development of technology strategy and future capability plans
Project Delivery & Scale-Up
Lead complex technical projects from concept through to delivery
Oversee pilot-scale activities and process development programmes
Support commissioning, operation, and optimisation of pilot equipment and development facilities
Apply technical expertise to solve challenging real-world engineering and scientific problems
Innovation & Capability Development
Identify emerging technical developments and market opportunities
Support the creation of new technologies, services, and applications
Drive capability building within battery materials and energy storage technologies
Mentor and develop colleagues across the team and wider organisation
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
Build and maintain relationships with customers, partners, and industry stakeholders
Represent the organisation externally as a technical expert
Support customer meetings, collaborative projects, and business development opportunities
Actively contribute to proposal development and technical bid activities
Collaboration & Leadership
Work closely with commercial, technical, and project management teams
Influence technical direction across multidisciplinary programmes
Contribute to knowledge sharing and capability development across the organisation
Support future team growth and, for the right candidate, develop towards broader people leadership responsibilities
About You:
You are a senior scientist or engineer with strong technical expertise and the ability to lead complex projects in industrial, pilot-scale, or technology development environments.
You'll bring:
Significant industrial experience in battery materials, advanced materials, process development, or related technologies
Experience leading complex technical projects and multidisciplinary activities
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to deliver innovative solutions
Experience working in pilot-scale, scale-up, commissioning, or development environments
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
The ability to influence and build relationships across technical and commercial teams
For Principal Scientists:
Experience operating or developing pilot-scale processes and equipment
Strong scientific understanding of battery materials, inorganic chemistry, or related fieldsFor Principal Engineers:
Experience commissioning, operating, and improving pilot or production equipment
Strong understanding of process engineering and industrial scale-up activities
Desirable Experience
Battery materials development
Inorganic chemistry
Electrochemistry
Battery recycling technologies
Pilot plant operations
Battery tear-down and failure analysis
Technology scale-up and commercialisation
Chartered status or progression towards professional accreditation
Why Join CPI?
Opportunity to play a key role in the development of next-generation battery technologies
Influence future capability and technology strategy
Lead high-profile projects with commercial and industrial impact
Work within a collaborative, innovation-focused environment
Competitive salary (£49,045 - £65,045)
Location & Working Pattern
Based in Sedgefield
Permanent position
Hybrid working available depending on project requirements
Frequent engagement with pilot facilities, project teams, and industry partners
The Opportunity
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Scientist or Engineer looking to step into a highly influential technical leadership position. You'll work at the intersection of innovation, scale-up, and commercialisation, helping develop new battery technologies while shaping future capability and mentoring the next generation of technical specialists.
Guidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy
Salary description
£49045.00 - £65045.00 per year