Materials Scientist - IKON

About Kingspan Group

Kingspan is a global leader in providing high-performance insulation and building envelope solutions for the construction sector. The company is committed to driving innovation, inspiration, and insight to reshape the built environment. Kingspan focuses on enhancing building performance and fostering a more sustainable, energy-efficient future for its clients and the planet.

Role Purpose

The IKON Materials Scientist will spearhead the research, development, and implementation of innovative material solutions, including renewable, alternative, and functional additives, for application across Kingspan's building envelope products. A key focus will be on advancing polyurethane (PU) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) chemical systems. This role involves leading investigations into material design, characterization, and performance optimization across diverse material classes, with a strong emphasis on sustainable and low-carbon pathways, including bio-derived options. The scientist will evaluate the integration of these materials into PU/PIR foam systems and support Kingspan’s sustainability and decarbonization goals by delivering new materials, increasing renewable content, reducing carbon footprints, and diversifying into alternative low-carbon material platforms. The position requires developing formulations, supporting laboratory and pilot-scale experiments, and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure technical robustness, scalability, and commercial viability of material solutions. Contributions to renewable content calculations, sustainability reporting, and life-cycle assessment (LCA) support are also expected.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead R&D for alternative, renewable, and emerging material systems for building envelope applications, including fibrous/particulate insulation (e.g., cellulose, mineral, recycled), natural/renewable fibers (e.g., hemp), bio-influenced/hybrid systems (e.g., mycelium, bio-composites), polymer-based composites, and novel insulation technologies.
• Assess material performance against thermal, fire, mechanical, acoustic, moisture, and aging requirements.
• Identify opportunities to integrate alternative and natural materials into hybrid insulation systems alongside PU/PIR or other platforms.
• Evaluate supply chain options for alternative, renewable, recycled, and functional raw materials.
• Formulate and optimize PU/PIR and related chemical systems, incorporating alternative, renewable, recycled, and functional materials to meet performance targets.
• Analyze the impact of non-traditional additives on rheology, mixing, curing, foam morphology, and cell structure.
• Translate laboratory formulations to pilot and production scales, ensuring reproducibility and consistent quality.
• Support troubleshooting for formulation issues, scale-up challenges, processing instability, and material interactions.
• Perform renewable content calculations and provide scientific justification for low-carbon material choices.
• Conduct Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) in collaboration with Sustainability and Innovation teams (ISO 14040/14044).
• Assess the carbon impact of raw material substitutions and advise on sustainable sourcing.
• Contribute technical insights to sustainability reporting and R&D roadmaps.
• Maintain detailed records of formulations, test results, material characterization, and trial conditions.
• Prepare comprehensive technical reports for internal stakeholders and management.
• Develop project scopes, experimental plans, risk assessments, and method statements.
• Present findings effectively to R&D, engineering, sustainability, quality, and senior management teams.
• Collaborate with Chemical R&D, Process Engineering, Sustainability, Quality, and Manufacturing teams for innovation and scale-up.
• Provide technical training on bio-influenced/hybrid materials and sustainable formulation technologies.
• Support other Kingspan divisions with material evaluations and technical insights.
• Adhere to ISO 9001, ISO 37301, the Company Handbook, and all Kingspan policies.