Chemist

About the company

Help Build Europe's Hypersonic Capability At Hypersonica, we’re redefining what’s possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast.

By joining Hypersonica, you’re not stepping into a predefined role. You’re joining a talent dense environment where every individual shapes the direction of the company. Our philosophy is to hire a small number of exceptional people with broad, deep technical capability, strong judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously.

We hire for talent, not rigid boxes. This role represents a business need, but the way it evolves will be shaped by the individual. If you’ve achieved what others said was impossible, or you bring a unique combination of skills that doesn’t fit a traditional mould, we want to hear from you. The work you do here directly contributes to Europe’s technological independence.

At Hypersonica, every hire raises the bar. We are deliberately small, intensely capable, and deeply mission-driven. If this role feels like a strong fit, or if you believe you bring something exceptional that goes beyond the description, we encourage you to apply.

Your tasks

• Own the chemistry for booster and propulsion materials, from material selection and qualification through to production support and in-service performance.
• Characterise energetic and non-energetic materials, including polymers, adhesives, liners, and composites, using thermal, spectroscopic, chromatographic, and mechanical methods.
• Plan and run compatibility, stability, and ageing studies, and use the results to predict service life and support safety decisions.
• Carry out and interpret sensitiveness and thermal stability testing, and provide data for hazard assessments and hazard classification.
• Work closely with our stress and design teams to provide material properties, assess how materials degrade, and support analysis and design decisions.
• Specify, qualify, and technically manage material suppliers and test laboratories, including incoming inspection and acceptance criteria.
• Investigate material failures, anomalies, and non-conformances, find the root cause, and give clear disposition advice.
• Help set up and run safe laboratory operations for energetic and hazardous materials, working with the HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) and Quality teams.
• Manage chemical compliance, including hazardous substances, safety data sheets, and REACH/CLP obligations.
• Write clear, traceable test procedures, material specifications, and reports under configuration control.

Requirements

• A hands-on Chemist with experience in energetic materials, propellants, polymers, or other high-performance materials for aerospace or defence.
• Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science (or a related discipline); a PhD or other postgraduate qualification is a plus.
• Practical experience with analytical methods such as DSC, TGA, FTIR, GC-MS, HPLC, DMA, or rheology, and turning the results into engineering decisions.
• Experience with material compatibility, stability, or ageing studies, ideally in a safety-critical setting.
• A 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 (e.g. Python or MATLAB) for data analysis and automation are an advantage.
• Comfortable making sound scientific judgements with incomplete data in fast‑moving, prototype‑heavy environments, without compromising on safety.

What we offer

• A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe’s most consequential defence challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security.
• Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence, with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow.
• High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes.
• A fast paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions.
• A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly.
• Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.

How to apply

You can apply directly to this role or reach out to Nathan Sweeney, Head of Talent. We review every application and aim to respond to all candidates within two weeks, whether the answer is yes or no.