CPI has an exciting opportunity for a Chief Technologist with expertise in colloid science to join the established and growing, Formulation Technology Team, based within the National Formulation Centre at NETPark, Sedgefield. Within this role, you will act as the recognised CPI domain knowledge expert in colloid science working with both internal and external partners to provide deep technology capability that enables the development and practice of CPI’s scientific knowledge, contributing to the realisation of project objectives.

The Company

At CPI we work with our partners to translate inventions into products and processes that enhance health and well-being, protect, and improve our environment and increase productivity across industries.

With a deep understanding of innovation processes and funding, outstanding technical expertise, and industry relevant assets, we enable products and processes to be quickly and cost-effectively brought to market. This supports the development of next-generation manufacturing, highly skilled jobs, and economic growth for the UK.

Our partners operate across many diverse markets including pharmaceuticals, speciality chemicals, food and drink, electronics, and transportation.

Please see below for some exciting projects the team have recently worked on:

MicroSUN: Accelerating the development of nanomedicines

MicroSTAR: Enabling rapid assessment of liquid formulation stability

The Role

Key tasks in the Chief Technologist role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• Contributing expert knowledge to inform CPI’s technology strategy and translating this into deliverable plans to achieve business objectives.
• Anticipating new technology developments and working in partnership with the technical team to deliver new areas for capability building, including the development of new facilities.
• Working collaboratively with Business Development and technical colleagues to assess both the technical and commercial aspects of new business opportunities, and support in customer engagements.
• Building and influencing a value adding network of relevant external stakeholders.
• Representing CPI as a domain knowledge technical expert in industrial and academic forums to add to the body of UK technology knowledge and capability.
• Developing and retaining relevant knowledge and capability to support UK industry in the translation of state-of-the-art ideas into commercially viable processes and products.
• Building CPI’s capability base by identifying and developing potential through coaching and motivating colleagues.
• Mentoring CPI colleagues and people in partner organisations, building collaborative knowledge sharing relationships.
• Leading a culture of continuous technology capability development within teams in alignment with CPI strategy and project deliverables.
• Partnering Bid Development teams, providing insight and expertise to bid creation.
• Formulating and presenting technology solutions to complex applications using deep technical knowledge.

CPI has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Research Scientist – Inorganic Materials to join the established and growing Nanomaterials and Composites team within the National Formulation Centre based at NETPark in Sedgefield.

The Nanomaterials and Composites team win and deliver a broad range of commercial and collaborative R&D projects in the area of sustainable polymer materials, bio-materials, nanoparticle/polymer composites, sustainable inorganic materials and energy materials.

Reporting to the Team Leader/Manager you will be responsible for providing technical expertise, capability and input, contributing to the delivery of projects in the broad area of Sustainable Materials. You will act as a technical lead, leading small to large scale projects ranging from initial proof of concept projects lasting only a few days to multi-year projects/programs. You will draw upon your technical skills and experience to provide carefully thought through advice and expertise to a range of stakeholders across CPI.

You will work closely with the Business Development and Bid writing teams to secure new public and privately funded projects in the sustainable materials space. You will have the opportunity to work at the interface of academia and industry, with a large number of projects, partners, technologies and market sectors. This variety will give you the opportunity to work on fundamental science/R&D as well as product development and commercialisation.

Some exciting projects the team have recently worked on are:

DEScycle: Scaling up e‑waste recycling through disruptive deep tech

Waste2Fresh: Addressing freshwater scarcity and pollution in textile manufacturing

Real stories of successful innovation: Discover how we are helping to make the world a better place through innovation

The Role

Key tasks in the role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• Identifying new technical developments and trends, translating these into building blocks for opportunities within the technology team, initiating the creation of (new) technological innovations/applications.
• Utilising own expert knowledge to assist in translating technology team strategy into practice through the delivery of plans to achieve technology team objectives.
• Building, maintaining and exploiting a network of relevant external stakeholders, customers, partners, research organisations and authorities, to represent the technology team and self as a credible expert, identifying opportunity for future projects and developments.
• Actively contributing to a culture of continuous capability development through coaching, mentoring and/or developing colleagues across the technology team and organisation, providing insights into areas of specialism. Which may include coaching and developing colleagues (both technically and behaviourally) to help them reach their potential and acting as a mentor to colleagues across the organisation, providing an expert-level perspective.
• Working collaboratively with Business Development, Bid Proposal and technical colleagues to contribute to proposal / project development and direct customer engagement. Seeking out and engaging in business development opportunities where appropriate.
• Setting up, planning and executing experimental / pilot scale runs and analysing, interpreting and reporting on the results of these, translating obtained findings and knowledge.

CPI has an exciting opportunity available for a Mechanical Engineering student to join us in supporting various crucial and exciting projects, within which you could help CPI to solve some of the biggest challenges the industry face. You will have the opportunity to help a variety of companies develop their ideas and processes so that they can be commercialised into successful products on the market.

Within the Operations Support team, you will gain experience through a wide diversity of reliability focussed projects developing and implementing maintenance and engineering practices across a wide range of machinery and supporting utility and other systems, appreciating how quality asset management standards are implemented in a modern R&D facility and appreciating the commercial implications of real-world engineering decisions. As an Engineering student you will have the opportunity to use your existing engineering and mathematical knowledge to analyse machinery reliability across CPI and as part of a multidisciplinary team, (or individually), you will support colleagues with the delivery of various ongoing operational and maintenance practices. The work will range from office-based studies of manuals (to understand how machinery operates), desktop reviews of maintenance and machinery operational history, though to work on the shop floor to study maintenance and operational practices, to holding interviews with operators, maintainers and (where appropriate) customers. These practices will develop you to be able to provide recommendations for improving machinery reliability, including investigating and solving complex problems which reduce reliability and help CPI constantly finding creative ways of working.

Full duties of the role and its associated responsibilities can be found in the job description.

Some exciting projects the team have worked on recently are:

Smart sensors
We have retrofitted some of our plant and technical equipment so that we have online data to help track utilisation, efficiency and improve our understanding of reliability. Improving our performance analysis of our plant and equipment helps us to assess risks and prioritise maintenance and engineering improvements to improve overall reliability, whilst ensuring our sites run as efficiently as possible.

Condition-based Maintenance on steam plant
Various steam trap surveys have highlighted a number of leaks that are not visible in normal operation. Steam plant is expensive to operate so efficiency is a key focus to reduce or maintain operating costs. Reducing waste also helps reduce stress loads on the plant and ensure we have capacity to run critical equipment for key projects. The steam trap surveys revealed a significant amount of losses, which once remedial work was completed, provided a large reduction in operating costs.

CPI is looking to recruit a Quality Specialist to provide wide ranging support to the quality function, promoting and integrating quality into every aspect of our business. In this role, you will perform a variety of tasks in support of specific areas of the quality system mainly focusing on the implementation, sustainability and continued improvement of the CPI Biologics quality management system to meet GMP requirements.

Key tasks in the Quality Specialist role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• Embrace and role model the desired behaviours to exemplify our Company values, promoting an ethical, positive company culture.
• To maintain consistent and documented compliance with all relevant Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Data Integrity (DI), quality and best practice requirements.
• Support the site Quality Management System including routine review and approval of change controls, deviations, OOS, action plans and CAPA and supporting the supplier evaluation process
• Compile and review batch certification documents for compliance with EU GMP requirements.
• Assist in the resolution of manufacturing, testing and packaging issues to support the release of products.
• Participation in root cause analysis investigations arising from deviations, OOS and complaints.
• Support both internal and external audits including writing reports, agreeing CAPA and following these up as required.
• Review and approval of risk assessments and validation documentation as required.
• Conducting Product Quality Reviews as required.

CPI has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Research Scientist – Digital Technologies to join the established and growing Automation and Digital team within the National Formulation Centre based at NETPark in Sedgefield.

We are seeking an exceptional candidate with a demonstrated mastery of data science principles and practices they have developed throughout their career. This individual will apply their expertise to address formulation challenges within our key industries: batteries, sustainability, nanotherapeutics, FMCG, and food and feed. As a Senior Research Scientist, the candidate will be recognized as a specialist in their field, providing cutting-edge solutions at a technology team level. They will also actively contribute to and lead initiatives related to business development and organizational improvement. Initial projects that the successful candidate will be leading on will include some in support of the batteries sector. Prior experience in this sector is advantageous, though not essential.

The mission of the Automation and Digital team is to employ cutting-edge digital and physical technologies to drive innovation in the formulation sector. Our goal is to facilitate efficient and high-quality data collection and integrate state-of-the-art modelling and simulation into our work. By combining our digital expertise with industrially relevant knowledge, laboratory automation, high-throughput experimentation, and state-of-the-art process characterization, we offer comprehensive solutions for companies looking to expedite innovation across new and existing product lines.

Reporting to the Team Manager you will provide technical expertise to contribute to the delivery of projects, act as technical lead in small and medium scale projects, and be involved in projects of some complexity. You will be developed in strategically relevant areas of data science, machine learning and/or process modelling. You will draw upon a range of practical and theoretical knowledge in data science to provide carefully thought-through advice and expertise to the range of stakeholders across our organisation

The team works with companies and organisations of all sizes from global multinationals to 2-person start-ups with project duration being from 1 month to 4 years. You will be exposed to an immense variety of projects: in scale (anything from 1 month to multi-year projects); in area of application (battery materials, pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods, coatings) and technical scope of machine learning techniques used.

You will be encouraged to explore new techniques (techniques both new to our organisation, and novel techniques emerging from academia). Training in new techniques - whether self-taught, peer training or through formal courses - will be encouraged.

Some exciting projects the team have recently worked on are:

DIY4U (FMCG): The generation of a fabrication lab combining an automated platform with digitally enabled manufacturing for the fast customisable, at point of purchase, fabrication of FMCG products such as laundry detergent. On this project we supporting development of soft matter modelling and simulating to develop digital twins of the fablab operation.​

Narrator (Nanopharma): The application of state-of-the-art digital techniques and automation to explore Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) manufacture for supporting RNA vaccines and therapeutics. Our digital scientists are helping to chart our way intelligently through libraries of chemical data and make strides in the science of LNP manufacture.

Other relevant project technical areas are:

• Working to apply model predictive control to formulation development and manufacture.
• Using clustering and correlation analysis to determine cause-effects or comparisons within datasets (e.g., developing models to predict soap stability, predicting best candidates for new ink materials)
• Using PCA and clustering to glean real-time data from inline process measurements for enhanced process monitoring
• Developing soft sensors based on PLS and neural net models to predict slurry particle size and viscosity
• Implementing Bayesian methods and/or state-of-the-art methods for optimising the Design of Experiments approach.
• Working with clients to increase their sustainability footprint by effective use of automated data processing and visualisation methods.

The Role

Key tasks in the role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• To plan, undertake, and lead on small to medium digital projects.
• To analyse, interpret, and report the results within agreed timescales and quality standards, and in accordance with project / client requirements.
• To drive business into CPI using our digital capabilitiesand deliver value from it.
• To partner with relevant functions of CPI, the automation team and other formulation teams, to build, advance and make digital capabilities available within the technology centre.

At CPI, we are on a mission to drive deep technology innovation in healthcare and sustainability. Due to explosive growth in our HealthTech market sector we are now recruiting for a dynamic, skilled, entrepreneurial and self motivated Business Development Manager to join our commercial team. The role will be responsible for promoting and selling CPI’s HealthTech product development services to a varied customer base including SMEs, OEMs and Academia.

Key tasks in the role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• To grow commercial income in the HealthTech target markets by leading blended digital and face to face customer journeys. Manage end to end customer journey from identification to customer retention.
• To build new commercial opportunities by researching new potential customers, identify key decision makers, engage through digital channels and maintain relationships through effective use of digital channels
• To lead the pitch for CPI’s offering to external stakeholders, effectively translating CPI’s technical capability and clearly articulating the value that CPI brings to the market.
• To work with customers, internal experts, and technology teams to prepare compelling project proposals/briefs/quotes, negotiate and close project proposals to a Purchase Order/Commercial Contract.
• To monitor market insights, customer feedback and evaluate the performance of existing CPI offerings and identify areas for improvement or innovation. Identify strategic market opportunities in the medical devices, diagnostics and wearables market and provide recommendations to CPI’s strategy and product development teams that enables CPI to invest in new technology development.
• To maintain and manage an account management process. Ensure client relationships are managed throughout the customer journey.

CPI is looking to recruit a friendly, enthusiastic and motivated Office Administrator to provide high quality administrative support at our Wilton site, ensuring excellent customer management and to enable the achievement of business objectives.

Key tasks in the Office Administrator role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• To assist in ensuring compliance with all relevant SHE regulations and guidelines relevant to office space, including DSE assessments.
• To provide diary management for senior managers.
• To be responsible for arranging travel and accommodation both inside and outside of the UK for all CPI staff following the travel procedure and ensuring best value for money.
• To provide reception duties; answering the main switchboard and dealing appropriately with all calls and taking messages.
• To arrange and ensure the smooth running of meetings, including the co-ordination of room bookings, collating papers and ensuring refreshments are available.
• To raise purchase orders as requested, placing orders as appropriate using the correct procedure and always ensuring best value for money.
• To provide administrative support to managers by attending project meetings to take notes and actions and providing an audit trail of actions in preparation for the next meeting.
• To take part in other admin activities and support other functions of the business as and when required. Any additional activities undertaken will be commensurate with the level of this role.

CPI has an opportunity for a Procurement Assistant to join the established and growing Transactional Procurement Team. The team carry out the day-to-day purchase of consumable items that help CPI’s Project Managers, Engineers and Scientists complete projects.

The role of the Procurement Assistant is to provide assistance to the full Procurement Team and ensure an effective service is maintained. The team purchases a wide range of goods, works and services across the organisation in an efficient and timely manner, in a way that maximises value for money and ensures compliance with public procurement regulations. In the role of Procurement Assistant you will have a great opportunity to learn all about the public and private sectors of purchasing and procurement

You will be working in a fast-paced environment alongside team members; therefore, we are looking for a candidate who enjoys working effectively with others both with the team and more broadly across CPI.

Key tasks of the Procurement Assistant role are below but are not limited to, the full job description can be viewed at www.uk-cpi.com/careers

• Assist the team with any quotation and tender activities.
• To ensure goods receiving of Purchase Orders when goods/services have been received.
• Complete data input/data analytics and housekeeping of the Procurement department's electronics folders.
• Carry out a variety of administrative tasks as required.
• Utilize CPI’s internal Purchase Requisition System to identify purchase requirements and ensure required information is available to assist the team in the Purchase Order process.
• Monitor Purchase Orders on CPI’s financial accounting system (SAGE 200).
• Expedite Purchase Orders with suppliers.
• Liaise with internal customers to provide status updates on orders.
• Ensure supplier documentation is correctly filed and archived.

Working in the IT team, you will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining IT across CPI sites. The activities you will manage will vary from installing and configuring computer systems, diagnosing hardware and software faults and solving technical/application problems, either over the phone or in person. You will be expected to use, maintain and be a primary point of contact for the company IT Helpdesk logging system, ensuring all calls are up to date and prioritised accordingly so that SLAs are met and the IT team is consistently delivering an excellent service.

Key tasks in the IT Technician role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• Installing and configuring computer hardware operating systems and applications required by CPI users.
• Installing and configuring software components to ensure usability.
• Troubleshooting any hardware, system or network problems.
• Setting up new user accounts and profiles where required.
• Resolving any password management issues. Maintaining the usability and “health” of the computer systems across CPI sites.
• Upgrading systems and software where required to ensure compatibility and security standards are met, including anti-virus software.
• Repairing and/or replacing damaged hardware.

Due to a member of the team going off on maternity, we are recruiting for a fixed term Engineering Planning Assistant to join the team. The Engineering team are responsible for the delivery of all size projects to CPI’s Technology Centres and ensuring all areas are complaint with statutory, legal and client specifications. This role is based at NETPark, Sedgefield, with some travel to Darlington, Wilton and Newton Aycliffe when required.

This role offers you the opportunity to take your existing administration and time management skills and knowledge in a new direction, as we are accepting applications from candidates who meet the essential criteria with and without previous Facilities/Engineering experience. Attention to detail and a desire to complete work to a high standard and deadlines are key requirements for this role.

The Engineering Planning Assistant will use their Engineering Administration skills and experience to carry out the below tasks (but are not limited to), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• To play a role in supporting the FM Engineering team in the successful delivery of projects across the company.
• To assist in coordinating project activities, ensuring timely completion, and maintaining communication among various stakeholders and serve as a point of contact for project-related inquiries, both internally and externally.
• Provide administrative support to the FM Engineering team, such as scheduling meetings, preparing regular status updates and managing correspondence.
• Manage the Facilities Management & Engineering inbox on a day-to-day basis filing emails in the necessary location such as folders in the shared inbox and in the Facilities Management SharePoint once actions are complete.
• Log, approve and save all utility Invoices across CPI sites as well as be the first point of contact for all utility providers.
• Log and track the status of all Wilton Centre Helpdesk requests with the Facilities Management Landlord and communicate with the requestor regarding progress updates.
• Assist with the coordination of the management of CPI lease agreements and assist with the management and maintenance of a system to collate information for charging non-contractual service provisions (such as telephone, postal, photocopying charges, and room ire/refreshments).
• Assist with Energy Saving data collation and monitoring from CPI sites.

CPI has an opportunity for an Electronics Engineer to join the established and growing Photonics & Electronics team based at NETPark, Sedgefield.

The Electronics Engineer will report to the Electronic Engineering Manager and be responsible for providing electronic design capability and integration expertise within the existing team. The area of focus is the combination of printed and conventional electronics to deliver product solutions and applications related to the Internet of Things (IoT) advanced sensors or sensor systems, medical devices, wearable electronic devices and instrumentation. This is a multi-project role where your time will be split across two or three projects at a time.

You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively as part of a larger team.

You will participate in multiple projects and share your knowledge in some projects you will take the technical lead. The role will suit candidates who enjoy looking at technical challenges and investigating new ways of working. In the role of Electronics Engineer, there will be a hands-on element in showing the Integration team how your designs go together including collaboration with other departments including Firmware, Project Managers and Bids.

The Electronics Engineering team at CPI develop Electronic PC (Printed Circuits, flexible) and PCB (Conventional Rigid) to allow CPI to service its clients. Clients range from commercial clients looking to develop products at TRL 1 to 7 (Technology Readiness Level) or European/ UK projects which run for up to three years and are research projects in essence. Layouts including small scale design items with limited functionality including NFC (Near Field Communications), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) and more complex devices on PCBs.

Please click on the below links to read about some of the projects the team have been working on:

Floki Health

KnitRegen

Silent Sensors

Due to continued growth at CPI, we are recruiting for an experienced Facilities Coordinator to join our Facilities team. The Facilities team are responsible for managing and supporting the smooth running of CPI’s facilities, ensuring all contracted Facilities Management services meet legal, statutory and client specifications.

You will be responsible for delivering the tasks to deploy, maintain and execute the Facilities Management Contract working alongside the Technology Team’s Head of Operations to provide a full range of support across our North East sites, therefore a full driving licence or access to another means of travel will be required.

Key tasks in the role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• Monitor statutory compliance with Facilities Management standards, policies, procedures, and templates through facility audits and undertaking issue resolution tasks.
• Manage the day-to-day Facilities Management contracted at the assigned CPI site(s)
• Manage PPMs using CAFM system to escalate non-compliance at weekly Facility Management meetings, escalating issues to Team Leader - Maintenance for a monthly meeting report.
• Ensure Facilities Management are aware of outstanding issues and are dealing with them promptly.
• Coordinate the delivery of weekly Facility Management reviews with Operations, ensuring that actions are accurately logged and followed up on department trackers.
• Organise desk/office moves, all refurbishment works and furniture orders.
• Liaising with, Landlords/other tenants on building, maintenance and refurbishment works for common areas.