Dear Psi-K readers,

Materials contribute to 50% of global CO2 emissions, those critical to the net-zero transition such as magnets, semiconductors, hydrogen fuel, batteries are some of the biggest contributors. At Materials Nexus, we’re using AI to discover new and more sustainable materials.

We have raised over £3m to accelerate the change to net-zero materials through innovation and secured partnerships with international businesses.  Backed by top VC funds and leading institutions including Innovate UK, Google, Microsoft and AWS we are growing our team to transform the landscape of material development as we strive towards a more sustainable future.

About the role

• You will play a crucial role in enhancing our materials modelling suite to predict the properties of promising classes of novel materials, and performing detailed atomistic modelling of candidate systems.
• The ideal candidate for this role would be a scientist with experience in software development, keen to build impactful tools for materials science leading directly to environmental benefits.
• As an early employee, this role presents an exciting opportunity to step in at the ground floor and take on fast-moving goals and significant responsibilities that will evolve as our company grows.
• You will work closely with our senior leaders and world-class developers developing our cutting-edge platform and development strategy.

Responsibilities:

• Develop general-purpose tools for data-driven materials modelling, tackling challenges across a wide range of material classes and applications in an agile environment.
• Run ab initio calculations to parameterise higher-level models.
• Design and orchestrate workflows of high-throughput calculations, leveraging the tools you develop.
• Interface with our high-performance computing environments to maximise the efficiency of calculations.
• Implement development best-practices, including documentation and automated testing of our codebase.
• Collaborate with our science team to identify goals for platform development, opening new avenues for scientific investigation.
• Take on more responsibility and take a lead on specific aspect of the platform as we grow as a company and scale up our technology.

About you

We are looking for talented and, more importantly, passionate individuals who are motivated by the application of science and innovation to achieve net-zero materials.  You will be expected to have foundational scientific understanding and the ability to apply this to our problem set but also the drive to learn beyond your current understanding.

Essential - technical:

• Minimum 2.1 first degree in a Physical Science, Computer Science, or a related field. 
• PhD in Physical Science, Data Science, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

• Excellent working knowledge of scientific principles and appreciation of their application to materials challenges.
• Knowledge of the usage, implementation, and theoretical background of the computational modelling of materials.  With experience in tools such as:
  • molecular dynamics
  • density functional theory/ time dependent density functional theory
  • crystal plasticity models
  • kinetic Monte Carlo
  • dislocation dynamics
  • coarse grain modelling
• Track record of using this knowledge to successfully complete projects.
• Track record of coding in Python for technical applications.
• Experience using development collaboration tools for large multi-developer projects (e.g., git).projects (e.g., git). 
• Knowledge of a variety of software design methodologies and frameworks, and how to apply them in an agile environment. 

Essential - personal:

• Comfortable quickly adapting to new situations, learning new skills, and working independently as a self-starter.
• Inquiring mind, aptitude for creative thinking and problem solving, and proactive, methodical, and organised approach.
• Excellent communicator, able to effectively convey information to technical and non-technical colleagues in both written and verbal formats.
• Proven track record of ability to work effectively in a team.
• Appreciation of the needs, priorities, and challenges faced by a start-up company.
• Right to live and work in the UK without sponsorship. 

Desirable:

• Ability in JavaScript, Fortran, Julia or C++.
• Understanding of containerisation technology (e.g., Docker).
• Experience in application of machine learning (e.g., use of TensorFlow to train models).
• Understanding of issues in material sustainability and commitment to addressing them.

Benefits of working for us

📈 Stock Options: We value our employees and you to share in the success of the company. You will be a vested partner in our future achievements.

🌍 Shape the company's future: Joining us at this early-stage presents a unique opportunity to shape the direction of the company and have a meaningful impact as we continue to grow.

🏦 Future security: We are VC backed and have secured future funding. This stability provides you with confidence and assurance in your contribution to the business.

🌴 Flexible holidays: 33 days holiday/year which can be used on UK public holidays or one more convenient days for you.

🎂 Your birthday day off: Enjoy a well-deserved day off to celebrate and recharge.

💻 Flexible work arrangements: For this role, we would be seeking a commitment of an average of 3 days per week in the office. Flexible working times can also be arranged.

📒 Continuous learning and growth: We’re pioneers in our field. You'll be encouraged to expand your knowledge and skills in new areas, keeping you at the forefront of industry advancements.

Recruitment Process 

Three stage interview process 

• Initial 45 min video call "get to know" and a live coding pop-quiz led by our CTO, Robert Forrest
• 1.5 hour in-person interview, at our London offices, to go into detail around tech & science and a chance to meet the broader team
• A final 30-minute culture interview led by our CCO, Nic Stirk

• Successful candidates will need to complete:
  • Belbin teams role profile (personality profile of which you’ll receive a full report) 
  • References from two separate employers 
  • DBS check 

Materials Nexus actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.