UK job descriptions by sector

Research and development job descriptions, page 2 of 2

227 in this sector. Showing 201 to 227.

Level 5 Senior Technical Director The Senior Technical Director leads and owns specific R&D workstreams, taking a concept from initial idea through to technical readiness for product development or manufacturing. You'll be the driving force behind key research projects, ensuring they're technically sound and align with our broader business goals. This role sits right at the heart of our innovation pipeline, bridging foundational research and practical application. You'll translate complex scientific questions into actionable experimental plans, guiding junior team members and making critical technical decisions along the way. When this role is done well, we see groundbreaking technologies move from the lab into viable products, giving us a real competitive edge. If it's not, projects can stall, budgets get wasted, and we miss out on market opportunities. The challenge here is navigating the inevitable technical hurdles and unexpected failures that come with true innovation, all while keeping a clear path to commercialisation. The reward, honestly, is seeing your research efforts culminate in something real—a new material, a more efficient process, or a game-changing product that makes a difference. View
Level 4 Senior Technology Scout The Senior Technology Scout is here to lead the charge on discovering and vetting external technologies that could seriously shake up our R&D efforts. You'll be diving deep into emerging scientific fields, patent landscapes, and startup ecosystems, not just skimming the surface. Your main job is to turn all that raw information into clear, actionable insights that our R&D teams and business unit leaders can actually use to make smart decisions. This role sits right at the front end of our innovation funnel, acting as a critical filter. You're the one separating the genuine breakthroughs from the over-hyped fads, making sure we don't waste millions chasing shiny objects. When you do this well, we spot crucial opportunities, de-risk our investments, and stay ahead of the curve. Get it wrong, and we could miss the next big thing or, worse, pour resources into something that goes nowhere. The tricky part? You'll often be challenging internal assumptions and trying to get different teams on the same page about something completely new. The reward, though, is pretty immense: you get to directly influence the future direction of our products and services, seeing your discoveries turn into real-world impact. Honestly, it’s about shaping what our company will look like in 5-10 years. View
Level 5 Senior Technology Transfer Specialist The Senior Technology Transfer Specialist is responsible for taking promising research out of the lab and into the market. You'll manage a significant portfolio of our most complex technologies, making sure we protect our intellectual property and find the right partners to commercialise it. In practice, this means you'll be the expert in getting our inventions ready for the real world, from patenting to negotiating deals. When you do this well, our groundbreaking research actually helps people and generates revenue for future R&D. If it's not done right, our best ideas might just sit on a shelf, or worse, get stolen. The tricky part is navigating the often-conflicting worlds of academic freedom, legal complexity, and commercial urgency. The reward, though, is seeing a scientific breakthrough you championed become a tangible product or service. View
Level 5 Senior Test Laboratory Manager The Senior Test Laboratory Manager is responsible for leading the development and validation of new test methods, ensuring our R&D team gets the reliable data they need to make big decisions. Day-to-day, you'll be knee-deep in complex testing, troubleshooting equipment, and probably mentoring a couple of junior folks. You'll work at the intersection of our R&D scientists, product engineers, and the quality team, translating their vague ideas into concrete, repeatable test plans that actually deliver answers. When this role is done well, our product development moves faster, we avoid costly mistakes, and our products hit the market with confidence. When it's not, we're guessing, wasting money on failed prototypes, and potentially releasing something that just doesn't work. The challenge is balancing the urgent needs of R&D with the absolute necessity of scientific rigour and quality. The reward? Seeing a new product launch, knowing you were a critical part of proving it was ready, and watching your mentees grow into capable engineers. View
Level 4 Senior Testing Technician As a Senior Testing Technician, you'll spend your days refining how we test our cutting-edge products, designing and building the complex setups that make those tests possible, and guiding our junior team members. You're not just executing; you're improving the process itself, making sure our data is solid and our methods are robust. This directly impacts the reliability of our products and gives our R&D engineers the confidence to make big design decisions. You'll often be the first to spot a critical flaw in a prototype, which, let's be honest, saves us a lot of headaches (and money) down the line. When you do this job well, our products hit the market with fewer defects, and our engineers get clear, actionable feedback much faster. If it's not done properly, we risk launching unreliable products, which costs us customer trust and a fortune in warranty claims. The tricky part is often dealing with prototypes that are, shall we say, 'temperamental,' or figuring out why a test setup isn't behaving as expected. The reward, though? Seeing a product you’ve rigorously tested succeed in the real world, knowing you played a crucial part in its journey, and watching your mentees grow into capable technicians. View
Level 5 Senior User Experience Researcher The Senior User Experience Researcher leads significant research workstreams, making sure our R&D efforts are always grounded in a deep understanding of user needs and behaviours. You'll own the research process for specific product areas, helping teams identify new opportunities and validate concepts before we pour millions into development. Honestly, your work directly impacts whether we build something truly useful or just another feature that nobody really wants. You'll sit right at the intersection of product strategy, design, and engineering, translating messy human behaviour into clear, actionable insights. When you do this well, we build products that delight our users and outperform the competition. If it's not done well, we risk wasting valuable R&D budget on solutions looking for a problem, or worse, building something that frustrates our customers. The tricky part is navigating ambiguity and sometimes challenging strongly held internal opinions with user reality. The reward, though, is seeing your insights directly shape products that make a real difference to people's lives. View
Level 5 Senior Validation Engineer The Senior Validation Engineer is responsible for leading complex validation activities for new products, processes, and equipment coming out of our R&D labs. You'll be the one designing the tests, running them, and then writing up the reports that prove everything is up to scratch. This directly impacts our ability to launch safe, effective, and compliant products to market, which, let's be honest, is pretty crucial for a Research & Development company. You'll work at the intersection of our R&D scientists, product development teams, and regulatory affairs, translating innovative concepts into validated realities. You're the one who makes sure that what we *think* works, actually *does* work, under all the conditions we say it will. When this role is done well, we launch robust products on time, without nasty surprises from regulators or customers. When it's not, we face delays, costly recalls, or even worse, safety issues. The challenge is balancing the need for speed from R&D with the absolute requirement for thoroughness and compliance. The reward is knowing you're a key player in bringing genuinely impactful innovations to life, safely. View
Level 4 Staff Research Associate / Associate Scientist The Staff Research Associate is here to bridge the gap between initial scientific questions and robust, well-designed experiments. You'll move beyond simply following protocols to actively contributing to their creation and refinement, making sure our research is sound from the start. This role directly impacts the quality and reliability of our scientific data, which in turn drives our product development and strategic decisions. When you do this well, we get clear, defensible results that move projects forward quickly. If it's not done effectively, we end up with inconclusive data, wasted resources, and frustrating project delays. The tricky part is balancing scientific rigour with practical lab realities and sometimes, changing priorities. The reward, though, is seeing your experimental designs yield breakthrough data and knowing you've directly influenced scientific progress. View
Level 3 Technical Director The Technical Director (L2) is responsible for independently designing and executing specific experiments and analyses that directly feed into our larger R&D projects. You'll be the hands-on expert, taking a problem, breaking it down, and getting to the bottom of it. You'll work at the intersection of scientific theory and practical application, translating complex hypotheses into testable experiments that give our senior team solid data to work with. When this role is done well, we get reliable, well-documented results that push our projects forward without costly re-runs. When it's not, we waste time and money on inconclusive experiments, or worse, make decisions based on shaky data. The challenge is making sure your work is robust and repeatable, even when the data is messy or the equipment is temperamental. The reward is seeing your direct contributions lead to genuine scientific breakthroughs and new product capabilities. View
Level 6 Technical Director Manager, Research & Development The Technical Director Manager in Research & Development is here to lead a portfolio of research programmes, making sure we're not just doing cool science, but science that actually turns into commercial success. You'll be setting the technical direction for your teams, guiding them through the tricky bits of discovery and early-stage development, and ultimately owning the delivery of new technologies that keep us ahead of the competition. This role sits right at the heart of our innovation engine, bridging the gap between raw scientific potential and market-ready products. You'll translate high-level business objectives into concrete R&D roadmaps, ensuring your teams are always focused on the most impactful work. When you get this right, we launch game-changing products, secure new patents, and open up entirely new revenue streams. Get it wrong, and we risk falling behind, wasting millions on dead-end research, and frustrating our talented scientists. The challenge? It's balancing the long-term vision of pure research with the urgent demands of product development. You'll constantly be making tough calls on where to invest time and money, knowing that many promising ideas won't pan out. The reward, though, is seeing your team's breakthroughs move from a lab bench to a customer's hands, genuinely changing the world in some small (or large) way. View
Level 2 Technical Documentation Assistant The Technical Documentation Assistant is here to support our R&D team by making sure our technical documents are accurate, well-organised, and easy to understand. You'll be doing the groundwork—editing, formatting, and updating existing content, always under the watchful eye of a Senior Technical Documentation Assistant. This directly impacts how quickly our scientists can share their findings and how smoothly we pass regulatory reviews. You'll sit right at the heart of the R&D documentation process, helping to translate complex scientific notes and data into clear, concise information that our internal teams and, eventually, external bodies can rely on. When you do this job well, our documents are pristine, compliant, and our researchers can focus on their science, not on fixing typos. If things go wrong, we risk delays in project timelines, potential regulatory issues, or even misunderstandings that could compromise research integrity. The challenge, honestly, is getting to grips with a lot of new, complex scientific information very quickly, and making sure you're always asking the right questions. The reward? You'll be an integral part of bringing new scientific discoveries to life, seeing your precise work make a real difference to the clarity and impact of our research. View
Level 3 Technology Partnership Manager The Technology Partnership Manager is responsible for managing a portfolio of our existing, less complex R&D collaborations and actively supporting the senior team on new partnership initiatives. You'll be the bridge between our internal scientists and external technology providers, making sure our joint projects stay on track and deliver on their promises. This role directly impacts our ability to bring external innovation into our R&D pipeline, speeding up our development cycles and opening up new avenues for discovery. When you do this job well, our partners feel valued, our internal teams get the external tech they need without a hitch, and new, promising collaborations move forward efficiently. If it's not done right, we risk losing valuable partners, missing out on crucial technologies, and slowing down our entire R&D effort. The tricky part is often navigating the different priorities and communication styles between academic researchers, startups, and our own internal teams. The reward, though, is seeing early-stage concepts you helped bring in eventually turn into real products or scientific breakthroughs for our business. View
Level 5 Technology Transfer Manager As our Technology Transfer Manager, you'll be setting the vision and leading the charge for a key part of our intellectual property commercialisation. This means you're not just looking at individual deals; you're building the capability of your team, shaping our overall strategy for a specific research area or business unit, and making sure we're getting a real return on our R&D investment. You'll be the one making the big calls on which technologies to push and how to best get them to market. This role sits right at the intersection of our scientific breakthroughs and our commercial success. You'll be taking raw, often early-stage, research and transforming it into tangible value, whether that's through licensing agreements, new spin-out companies, or strategic partnerships. When you do this well, we see significant revenue streams, new products hitting the market, and our reputation as an innovation leader grows. If it's not done well, our valuable research just sits on a shelf, costing us money and missing opportunities. The challenge? You're dealing with incredibly complex science, often unproven markets, and a team of brilliant but sometimes disparate personalities. You'll need to navigate internal politics, external legal hurdles, and the inherent uncertainty of early-stage tech. The reward, though, is seeing your team's hard work translate into real-world impact, driving both scientific progress and financial growth for the organisation. It's about building something lasting. View
Level 3 Technology Transfer Specialist The Technology Transfer Specialist is here to help our research move from the lab bench to commercial reality. You'll be taking new ideas, assessing their potential, and then working out how we can protect them and get them out there. It's about making sure our scientific breakthroughs actually benefit people and generate some return for the organisation. You'll work at the intersection of our R&D teams, legal counsel, and potential commercial partners, translating complex scientific concepts into compelling business opportunities. You'll be the one helping inventors understand the commercial landscape and helping businesses understand the science. View
Level 3 Test Engineer The Test Engineer is responsible for independently executing a specific set of tests and experiments, making sure we get reliable data that helps our R&D teams make smart decisions. You'll take ownership of your assigned test programmes, from setting up the equipment to analysing the initial results. This role sits right at the heart of our product development cycle, acting as a critical checkpoint before designs move forward. When you do this well, our R&D projects run smoothly, we catch problems early, and we avoid costly reworks down the line. If things go wrong, we could end up pushing out a product that doesn't meet spec, which is a headache for everyone involved. The tricky part is often dealing with incomplete information or unexpected equipment quirks. The reward? You get to see your work directly influence the quality and reliability of our next big thing. View
Level 5 Test Laboratory Manager The Test Laboratory Manager is here to lead and direct our entire R&D test lab, making sure we deliver accurate, timely, and compliant test results that directly influence our product development decisions. You'll sit squarely between the strategic R&D roadmap and the day-to-day execution of complex testing, translating big-picture goals into actionable lab programmes. When you do this well, we launch better products faster, with fewer costly surprises down the line. If you don't, we risk making poor design choices, facing regulatory headaches, or even launching unsafe products. The challenge? Balancing the urgent demands of R&D with the absolute necessity of rigorous, compliant testing. The reward? Seeing your lab's data directly shape the next generation of our products and knowing you've built a truly world-class testing capability. View
Level 2 Test Technician As a Test Technician, you'll be right at the heart of our R&D lab, executing the test plans that our senior engineers design. Day-to-day, that means setting up experiments, running equipment, and meticulously recording all the data. You're the one who makes sure we've got solid, reliable information to back up our design choices, which is absolutely critical for getting new products out the door. This role sits firmly at the start of our product validation journey. You'll be the first pair of eyes on how our prototypes perform, turning raw physical behaviour into structured data. When you do this job well, our engineers get accurate, timely results, meaning they can iterate on designs faster and with more confidence. If the data's a bit messy or the tests aren't run properly, well, that can lead to wrong conclusions and costly delays down the line. The challenge here is making sure every single test is run perfectly, every time, even when it's a bit repetitive. The reward? Knowing your careful work directly contributes to groundbreaking new products actually making it to market safely. View
Level 3 Testing and Validation Assistant The Testing and Validation Assistant independently manages the execution of standard test protocols for specific components or subsystems. You'll be the one setting up the 'rigs', running the experiments, and diligently collecting all the data. This role sits right at the heart of our R&D process, bridging the gap between an engineer's design and a reliable, working product. When you do this well, we catch potential flaws early, saving us a fortune in redesigns and warranty claims down the line. Get it wrong, and we could launch something that just doesn't perform as promised, which is a headache for everyone. The tricky part is keeping everything perfectly consistent, even when the data looks a bit odd or the equipment acts up. The reward, though? You get to see our cutting-edge ideas turn into robust, market-ready products, knowing you played a crucial part in proving they actually work. View
Level 3 Testing and Validation Manager As a Testing and Validation Manager at this level, you'll own the execution of specific test suites for new components or subsystems within our R&D projects. This means you're diving deep into the technical details, making sure every new gadget or material we're developing actually meets its specifications and, frankly, doesn't fall apart. You'll be the bridge between the design engineers who dream up the product and the manufacturing team who'll build it, ensuring what we design is actually producible and reliable. When you do this well, we avoid costly redesigns and embarrassing product failures down the line. Get it wrong, and we're looking at delays, budget overruns, and potentially unhappy customers. The tricky part? You're often testing prototypes that are, well, prototypes – sometimes a bit flaky. The reward is seeing your rigorous testing directly improve a product before it even gets close to market. View
Level 3 Testing Technician The Testing Technician is here to independently run a whole suite of tests on our new product prototypes and components. You'll be the one making sure our designs stand up to real-world conditions, or at least, lab conditions that simulate them. Day-to-day, this means getting your hands dirty with actual hardware, setting up complex test rigs, and meticulously collecting data. You're essentially the gatekeeper, making sure that what we design on paper actually works in practice, and if it doesn't, you're the first to spot it. This role sits right in the middle of our R&D cycle. You'll get products from the design engineers, put them through hell (in a controlled way, of course), and then feed all that crucial data back to them. It's a bit like being a detective; you're looking for clues about how a product behaves under stress. When you do this job well, we catch problems early, saving us a ton of money and embarrassment down the line. If it's not done properly, we might release something that breaks in the field, which nobody wants. The tricky part is that prototypes can be a bit… temperamental. You'll often be testing something that's never been tested before, so you'll need to think on your feet when things don't go according to the manual. The reward, though? You get to see our future products before anyone else, and you play a critical part in making them robust and reliable. Honestly, it's pretty cool to be part of bringing new tech to life. View
Level 3 User Experience Researcher The User Experience Researcher is here to uncover the 'why' behind user behaviour, helping us build products that genuinely solve problems in our Research & Development space. You'll take ownership of research projects for specific features or product segments, moving beyond just testing ideas to actually discovering unmet needs. You'll work closely with product managers, designers, and engineers, acting as the voice of the user and making sure our R&D efforts are always grounded in real-world understanding. When you do this well, we build products that users love, reducing wasted development time and increasing adoption. If it's not done effectively, we risk creating features nobody wants or solutions that miss the mark entirely, which, frankly, is a costly mistake in R&D. The tricky part is often getting everyone on the same page about what 'good' research looks like and convincing them to trust qualitative insights. The reward, though, is seeing your findings directly shape a product, making a tangible difference to how people interact with our technology. View
Level 3 User Testing Specialist The User Testing Specialist is responsible for running end-to-end user tests for specific product features or smaller R&D projects. You'll take a feature from concept or early prototype, design how we'll test it with real people, carry out those tests, and then tell the team what you found. You'll work at the intersection of product design and engineering, translating raw user behaviour into clear, actionable insights that our R&D teams use to build better products. When this role is done well, we ship features that users actually understand and love, cutting down on expensive rework later on. When it's not, we risk building complex solutions to problems users don't have, or creating experiences that are just plain frustrating. The challenge is often getting to the 'why' behind user actions, not just the 'what', and then communicating that clearly to busy teams. The reward is seeing your direct input shape a product that genuinely helps people and knowing you've prevented a few headaches down the line. View
Level 2 Validation Associate The Validation Associate is responsible for executing pre-defined validation test scripts and meticulously documenting the results. This directly impacts our ability to prove that our R&D systems and processes are reliable and compliant with strict regulatory standards. You'll work closely with our Validation Engineers and Lab Scientists, translating detailed protocols into practical tests and making sure every step is followed to the letter. When this role is done well, it means our data is trustworthy, our equipment is dependable, and we're building a solid foundation for future regulatory audits. When it's not, we could face serious compliance issues, data integrity problems, or even product recalls – frankly, that's not something we want. The challenge here is the sheer level of detail and the unwavering adherence to procedures; you can't cut corners, even small ones. The reward, though, is knowing you're contributing directly to the quality and safety of new medicines and treatments, right from the very start of their development. View
Level 3 Validation Engineer The Validation Engineer independently executes and owns specific validation tests, making sure our new R&D products and processes meet all the required specifications. You'll work right at the heart of product development, translating design requirements into robust test plans and then getting your hands dirty running those tests. When you do this well, we catch potential product failures early, saving millions in warranty costs and protecting our brand's reputation. If it's not done properly, we risk launching products that simply don't stand up to real-world use – and that's a problem no one wants. The challenge is often balancing rigorous testing with tight project deadlines. The reward, though, is seeing your work directly contribute to a successful product launch, knowing you've helped build something truly reliable. View
Level 7 VP of Quality & Regulatory Affairs As our VP of Quality & Regulatory Affairs, you'll own the entire enterprise-wide Quality Management System (QMS). That means you're ultimately accountable for every single product we put out, from its initial R&D concept right through to market surveillance and customer feedback. Your day-to-day might involve anything from presenting our regulatory strategy to the Board to negotiating with the FDA or EMA on a critical product submission. You're the one who sets the corporate policy and ensures we don't just meet, but often exceed, global regulatory expectations. This role sits right at the top, bridging R&D, Manufacturing, Commercial, and Legal. You're translating complex regulatory landscapes and quality requirements into clear business strategy. If you get this right, we launch innovative, safe products quickly, maintain an impeccable reputation, and avoid costly regulatory penalties or product recalls. Get it wrong, and frankly, the company faces existential threats – think product bans, massive fines, or even criminal charges. The real challenge here is balancing aggressive innovation with uncompromised compliance. It's about saying 'no' when necessary, but always finding a compliant 'how'. The reward? Knowing you're protecting our customers, our colleagues, and the company's future, whilst shaping the standards for our entire industry. View
Level 7 VP, Global Quality & Compliance The VP, Global Quality & Compliance sets the overarching vision and strategy for our entire Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring everything we do in Research & Development meets the highest global regulatory standards. You'll be the one presenting to the Board on our compliance posture and engaging directly with regulators like the FDA and EMA. When this role is done well, we earn and maintain trust from patients, regulators, and investors, accelerating our ability to bring life-changing innovations to market safely. When it's not, we face significant regulatory penalties, product recalls, and irreparable damage to our reputation. The challenge is balancing uncompromising compliance with the urgent pace of scientific discovery and commercial goals. The reward? Knowing your work directly contributes to patient safety and the company's long-term success. View
Level 7 VP, Research & Development Operations As our VP, Research & Development Operations, you'll be the driving force behind the operational excellence of our entire R&D organisation. Day-to-day, this means shaping our long-term strategy for everything from lab infrastructure and digital tools to global supply chains and regulatory compliance. You'll work closely with the CEO and other C-suite executives, translating our scientific vision into a scalable, efficient, and robust operational reality. When this role is done well, we're not just faster to market; we're more innovative, more compliant, and ultimately, more profitable. Your decisions directly impact our ability to bring life-changing products to patients and customers, and frankly, our market position. If it's not done well, we face regulatory fines, project delays, and a loss of competitive edge—the stakes are incredibly high. The challenge? You're balancing the urgent needs of cutting-edge science with the non-negotiable demands of regulation and fiscal responsibility, all while navigating a rapidly changing global landscape. The reward, though, is seeing your strategic vision come to life, knowing you've built the engine that powers our future breakthroughs, and presenting those successes to the board and investors. View