Materials & Process Development Engineer

As Materials & Process Development Engineer, you will be responsible for shaping and delivering the company’s advanced materials and WAAM (Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing) capability. The role spans R&D, process industrialisation, and compliance, positioning you at the interface between product innovation, quality assurance, and manufacturing readiness. 

This is a technically hands-on, strategically important role, ideal for someone with a strong foundation in metallurgy, a deep understanding of additive processes, and the drive to push new materials and methods into production. You will play a critical role in building internal infrastructure, guiding qualification pathways, and ensuring external technical credibility with customers, auditors, and partners 

Roles Responsibilities 

• Process & Technology Development: Provide technical support in the development, optimisation, and qualification of WAAM processes across a range of structural alloys. Act as a focal point for material-related manufacturing strategies, driving repeatability, build quality, and throughput improvements. 

• Materials Introduction & Qualification: Support and lead cross-functional efforts to introduce new materials into the Additive Manufacturing portfolio, from feasibility to qualification. Coordinating internal trials and external validation activities to ensure materials are fit for purpose and compliant with customer and regulatory expectations. 

• Internal Capability Building: Establish, develop and maintain in-house materials characterisation and quality control infrastructure, including sample preparation, metallography, and optical microscopy. Define and implement repeatable procedures that support both R&D and production, enabling scalable, traceable evaluation of material quality and process performance. 

• Governance & Compliance: Support and maintain systems aligned with ISO 9001 and engage directly with class societies and third-party auditors. Ensure that documentation, traceability, and technical reporting meet the standards required for regulated applications (e.g., marine, defence). 

• Training & Knowledge Transfer: Mentor engineers and technicians in the application of WAAM techniques, metallurgical analysis, and equipment use. Drive continuous upskilling across the team to embed best practice in process execution and quality control. 

• Research & External Engagement: Represent the company in technical forums and conferences. Take ownership of collaborative R&D efforts that align with strategic goals and contribute to the company’s technical reputation in the additive manufacturing field. 

• Degree (MSc or higher, PhD preferred) in Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline 
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline 
• Proven track record in additive manufacturing process development, particularly WAAM or DED 
• Strong technical grounding in welding metallurgy and materials characterisation techniques 
• Experience working within a certified QMS (ISO 9001) and engaging with certification bodies 
• Ability to translate R&D outcomes into practical, scalable solutions for production 
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a methodical approach to troubleshooting manufacturing issues. 
• Candidates must have permanent authorization to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship.

Salary – Competitve

Bonus – Performance related bonus scheme

Pension - 9% employer contribution with an optional employee contribution

Annual Leave – 25 days, plus statutory holidays

Who we are

DEEP Manufacturing, based in Avonmouth (Bristol) offers advanced manufacturing capabilities and expertise in large-format metal additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping and material testing. Our advanced manufacturing facilities include a state-of-the-art robotics suite, offering 3D printing services and Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) capabilities which means we can deliver manufacturing projects in less time and at lower costs compared to traditional manufacturing processes.

Working at DEEP

We're a team of highly experienced engineering, operations, quality and safety experts, with a funding model that allows us the freedom to think long term and pursue our mission without traditional restraints. We want to drive progress at the forefront of manufacturing and the values we bring to work every day are critical:

Be Curious – Find a better way and ask why not? Answers are easy, questions are hard – ask original questions and be a curiosity catalyst!

Be Exceptional – It will take the most intelligent, talented and creative people on the planet working together to achieve our mission. Get it done, be relentless in your pursuit of excellence, and demand excellence from everyone.

Be Fearless – No one has done this on the scale we're doing it before. Impossible things must be done for the first time. We are the team pushing boundaries!

Be Good – Cultivate passion and thrive together. Be safe, take intelligent risks, but never compromise the safety of the team – ever!

At DEEP, we celebrate and embrace diversity and inclusion and strongly believe that the best innovations come from diverse perspectives. We invite applicants from all backgrounds to join us in creating technology that makes a meaningful impact on humanity, our oceans and planet.