Join to apply for the Research Development Engineer (KTP Associate) (12 months) role at NCC – Innovating for Industry
Join to apply for the Research Development Engineer (KTP Associate) (12 months) role at NCC – Innovating for Industry
About The Role
Location:
Primary location: Christchurch (some travel to Bristol required)
* Salary: £32,000-£40,000, including potential project completion bonus of up to 10%.
* Additional development budget of up to £2,000 annually (training courses, further studies etc.).
* Exciting opportunity to be the bridge between two facilities on the cutting edge of polymer recycling.
About The Role
Location: Primary location: Christchurch (some travel to Bristol required)
Benefits include:
* Salary: £32,000-£40,000, including potential project completion bonus of up to 10%.
* Additional development budget of up to £2,000 annually (training courses, further studies etc.).
* Exciting opportunity to be the bridge between two facilities on the cutting edge of polymer recycling.
Project Aim: The aim of this KTP is to develop a way of standardising the material characteristics of mixed plastic waste streams and turn them into a feedstock for the plastic lumber market.
Project
Commercial plastic recycling is severely limited by the inability to separate plastic waste streams, with most of the 75% of plastic going to waste coming from streams that cannot be segregated effectively. This project aims to develop a process control system capable of standardising the performance characteristics of materials developed from mixed plastic waste streams, preventing them from being incinerated and turning waste into a critical feedstock for future, more sustainable products.
This project will leverage NCC’s access to leading researchers and expertise in polymer composites, and Circular11’s expertise of polymer processing to develop a novel ‘dynamic formulation’ methodology. This capability will then be embedded in Circular11 to standardise the material characteristics of mixed plastic waste streams and turn them into a feedstock with reproducible performance to replace timber in non-structural outdoor applications.
About C11
Circular11 takes plastic waste that would otherwise go to incineration and turns it into a composite material which is manufactured into outdoor products that have a net-negative carbon footprint. These products are then collected and recycled at the end of their lives. Circular11 achieves this via an innovative process control system that enhances and standardises the quality of mixed plastic streams that normally cannot be further separated.
Circular11’s mission is to turn all mixed plastic waste into a critical feedstock for the timber market, and in doing so, enable the decarbonisation of infrastructure assets that currently rely on a linear economy of short-lived timber materials that are destined for incineration.
About NCC
NCC is an independent, open-access technology centre delivering world-class research and development of composite materials and more. As part of the UK’s Catapult Network we have access to the latest technology and technical expertise in polymer composite development.
Requirements
* Qualifications: Its desired that the KTP associate will have a minimum of a 2:1 degree in a relevant field; applications from Chemistry, Materials Science, or another relevant topic will be considered. A masters or higher level would be preferable, with evidence of success in a relevant longer, self-driven project or thesis, that has taken place in either a university, research and technology organisation (RTO), or in a research-driven commercial setting.
* Experience: The associate must have experience of polymer processing, and ideally, polymer compounding. Addition experiences are desirable; material testing (thermal, chemical, mechanical), process modelling and automation. A combination of multiple of the above is desirable, but not essential. Experience in running long-term projects such as a thesis is preferable. Ideally the associate will have experience in publishing papers.
* Skills and attributes: The associate will need to be driven, motivated and comfortable with independent work. They should be proactive, display confidence in using their initiative and able to lead their work but also able to work within a wider team. The associate must be a good communicator, and able to clearly convey complex technical information to a varied audience. They will be able to competently address scientific and engineering problems involving technical and non-technical factors. The associate will need the ability to review data to logically justify alternative approaches and compare them against appropriate criteria.
* Other: The associate must have ability to travel between NCC (Bristol) and Circular 11 (Bournemouth).
A KTP is a three-way collaboration that benefits all parties:
* A graduate or postgraduate (known as an Associate)
* A business or a not-for-profit organisation
* A university/research institution (Knowledge Base)
KTPs are designed to deliver an innovation project and bring about lasting, transformative change. As a KTP Associate, you lead the project with full support and input from the organisation and the Knowledge Base teams. https://www.ktp-uk.org/graduates/
Closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 10th August 2025
Notes/Brief for Recruitment Team:
About The Company
Not sure you meet all the requirements? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs if they think they may not meet every qualification, when in fact they often do. At NCC we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.
We ensure that all hiring decisions are made without regard to age, race, national origin, sex, disability, gender, gender identity, religion, or any other protected characteristics, and will treat all applications with the strictest confidence. We’re always open to hearing how we can support flexible working in different ways, including part-time work. Please don’t be afraid to ask about what we can do to support your needs. All requests will be carefully and fairly considered. We wish you every success in your job search.
Why NCC?
We see our success in yours. The future of composites manufacturing relies on NCC, and we rely on the right individuals to make it happen, whether they’re engineers or not!
Diverse challenges – NCC isn’t just about aerospace. We’re working with over 16 sectors and a variety of customers, from private ventures to the global tier 1 companies, providing variety to your experience.
Innovation – a world-leading research and development centre, the work we do brings novel and innovative solutions to industry, with the future firmly in mind. So we need innovating thinking not just in Engineering, but across all support functions.
Development in composites, and you – if the scope of exciting work isn’t enough to sway you, our ethos of continued learning and development and flexible working patterns will.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Seniority level
* Seniority level
Not Applicable
Employment type
* Employment type
Full-time
Job function
* Job function
Engineering and Information Technology
* Industries
Research Services
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