Engineering Capability Lead - Carbon Fibre Pilot Line

This is a rare opportunity to lead the development of a new carbon fibre pilot line and play a key role in strengthening the UK's capability in advanced materials manufacturing. Joining NCC at an exciting stage of growth, you will help establish a nationally significant facility from the ground up, leading a specialist multidisciplinary team and shaping the technologies, processes and people that will drive future innovation.
Role purpose:
To provide day-to-day operational leadership, coordination and work scheduling for a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technicians undertaking research and development activities on a new carbon fibre pilot line.
You will be responsible for ensuring that people, equipment and technical resources are effectively coordinated to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality experimental programmes.
Knowledge and Skills Requirements
o Degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or related discipline (or equivalent experience).

o Proven experience in pilot plant, chemical processing, materials science or laboratory-based research.
o Demonstrable experience of supervising, coordinating or line managing engineers, technicians or other technical personnel.
o Experience of planning and scheduling technical work involving multiple people, activities and competing priorities.
o Ability to understand and develop technical requirements, experimental plans, operating procedures and engineering documentation without supervision.
o Experience of working within formal health, safety and environmental requirements e.g. risk assessment, safe systems of work and control of hazards in an engineering environment.
o Willingness to promote a positive safety culture and ensure lessons from incidents, near misses and experimental activities are acted upon. Ability to recognise unsafe conditions and intervene when necessary.
The ideal candidate will combine strong people leadership and practical scheduling capability with sufficient engineering and technical understanding to operate credibly within a carbon fibre R&D environment. You do not necessarily need to be the deepest technical specialist in every aspect of carbon fibre manufacture; however you must be able to understand the work, challenge constructively, allocate resources intelligently and ensure that the team can safely and effectively deliver the pilot-line programme.

+ Who are NCC?
NCC is a world-leading innovation organisation that turns cutting-edge research and technology into industrial impact.
What we do
We help manufacturers take on bigger challenges - whether that's building cleaner aircraft, scaling up offshore wind, or strengthening the UK's supply chains. We're here to deliver practical outcomes, not prototypes that sit on shelves.
Who we work with
We work across 16 sectors, from defence and energy to infrastructure and space. Some projects are with global tier 1s, others with small UK firms solving one specific problem - the works always varied, and always real.
What it's like here
We're not a startup. We're not a corporate. We're a national centre with the kit, time and people to do the job properly. The teams are focused, the thinking is sharp, and you'll be trusted to get on with it.
Why this job matters
This role isn't just internal support - it's part of how we deliver nationally important work. If we do our job right, the UK's manufacturers can do theirs better.
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 the 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 including alternative ways to apply. Please contact [email protected]. All requests will be carefully and fairly considered. We wish you every success in your job search.

Salary: £58,341 - £73,057per annum experience dependent, plus up to 12.5% employer pension contribution and private medical insurance., Please don't wait for the closing deadline if you are interested in this role as we retain the right to close the applications process early depending on the volume of candidates applying.
What we offer in return
Annual salary reviews, company paid private medical insurance, up to 12.5% employer pension contribution, great people, honorary staff status at the University of Bristol. With a genuine focus on wellbeing, EDI and learning and development this is a chance to continue to build your career in a thriving R&D facility with a bright future.
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