Full job descriptionPrincipal Scientist / Engineer - Battery Materials
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 fields
For 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.