Materials Scientist

📍 London, N4
🏛️ 4 days in our office, 1 day from home (choose from Tue–Thu)
💰 £35-45k per annum + equity

About Shellworks

At Shellworks, we’re on a mission to make plastic waste a thing of the past. We’ve created a new generation of materials - sustainable, high-performing, and designed to disappear. All of our materials are broken down by microorganisms in the soil. By reimagining how plastics are made, we’re tackling one of the world’s most urgent environmental challenges.

You’ll be joining a team of experts in materials science, design and manufacturing who are obsessed with sustainability and innovation.

About The Role

As part of our fast-paced, collaborative environment, you'll have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the planet while growing your expertise. If you're passionate about using your scientific skills to solve complex challenges and create a better future, this is the perfect role for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the development of proprietary polymer blends and additive packages. You’ll be responsible for expanding our core material's scope, successfully hitting commercial performance targets.

• You will develop formulations that remain robust and uncompromising during a product’s shelf-life but maintain rapid biodegradability the moment they reach their end-of-life.

• Develop a predictive framework that correlates lab-based data to real-world machine settings. Your goal is to eliminate trial-and-error by predicting how materials will behave before they hit the factory floor.

• Expand our internal testing suite to connect microstructure analysis (crystallinity, melt stability, etc) to macroscopic failure modes.

• Work with suppliers on new materials, including incoming material analysis, testing and qualification.

• As a member of a dynamic team, you won’t just stay in your lane. You’ll jump in wherever needed from vetting new sustainable feedstock suppliers to identifying and researching new opportunity spaces.

Our Ideal Candidate

• Holds a Graduate Degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or a related field, with at least 1 year of industry experience.

• Has a first-principles knowledge of chemistry and structure-property relationships.

• Demonstrates solid skills in experimental design, with a passion for experimentation, data analysis, validation, and thorough documentation.

• Brings a proactive, results-driven mindset and a strong willingness to learn - this is a hands-on role that requires curiosity and initiative.

• Is highly agentic and thrives in in fast-moving, unstructured environments - you’re always the one spotting opportunities, building structure from scratch, and moving projects forward without waiting for instruction.

• Has a bias to action and is confident making decisions independently, even with incomplete information.

• A true team player who actively avoids silos and prioritises interdisciplinary problem solving.

• A logical thinker and clear communicator, who proactively brings clarity when there is confusion or ambiguity.

• An organised project manager who can deliver work to a high standard, on time.

• Able to travel monthly and is capable of handling goods up to 25kg in weight.

What we offer

🌴 28 days holiday + statutory holidays

🥙 Daily catered lunch at the office and team socials

🐚 A tightly knit, passionate team making a real impact
💚 Heka wellbeing allowance - to spend on what matters to you - gym, therapy, nutrition, learning, fertility and menopause support, and lots of other options!
🩺 Virtual GP - same or next day appointments and private prescriptions delivered to you
🚲 Cycle to work scheme - buy, subscribe to, or share a bike with savings of up to 42% via salary sacrifice
👍 Competitive salary + equity options
📚 Growth and development opportunities as we scale

👶 Enhanced parental leave - 12 weeks maternity at full pay, 6 weeks paternity at full pay

Join Us

Becoming a part of Shellworks means being part of a team that’s passionate about sustainability and innovation. Our world-class team includes experts in materials science and visionary entrepreneurs dedicated to creating a better future. Together, we’re redefining what’s possible.