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Hypersonica is building Europe's hypersonic defence capability. This role owns the chemistry for booster and propulsion materials across the full lifecycle: material selection, qualification, production support, and in-service performance.
Key responsibilities:
- Characterise energetic and non-energetic materials (polymers, adhesives, liners, composites) using thermal, spectroscopic, chromatographic, and mechanical methods (DSC, TGA, FTIR, GC-MS, HPLC, DMA, rheology).
- Plan and execute compatibility, stability, and ageing studies; predict service life and support safety decisions.
- Conduct sensitiveness and thermal stability testing; provide data for hazard assessments and classification.
- Collaborate with stress and design teams to provide material properties, assess degradation, and support analysis.
- Specify, qualify, and technically manage material suppliers and test laboratories; manage incoming inspection and acceptance criteria.
- Investigate material failures, anomalies, and non-conformances; determine root cause and provide disposition advice.
- Establish and operate safe laboratory procedures for energetic and hazardous materials in coordination with HSE and Quality teams.
- Manage chemical compliance (hazardous substances, safety data sheets, REACH/CLP).
- Write clear, traceable test procedures, material specifications, and reports under configuration control.
The environment is mission-driven, fast-paced, and prototype-heavy. You'll have high autonomy, direct impact on European sovereign capability, and daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence. The company values clarity, integrity, and excellence, with a culture that supports initiative and responsible boundary-pushing.
Requirements:
- Hands-on chemistry experience in energetic materials, propellants, polymers, or high-performance materials for aerospace or defence.
- Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science (or related discipline); PhD or postgraduate qualification is a plus.
- Practical experience with analytical methods (DSC, TGA, FTIR, GC-MS, HPLC, DMA, rheology) and translating results into engineering decisions.
- Experience with material compatibility, stability, or ageing studies, ideally in safety-critical settings.
- Strong safety mindset and experience working with hazardous materials under formal safety rules.
- Experience with energetic materials testing, hazard classification, or explosives handling is a strong advantage.
- Programming skills (Python, MATLAB) for data analysis and automation are advantageous.
- Ability to make sound scientific judgements with incomplete data in fast-moving environments without compromising safety.
