Materials Engineering Lead (12-month Contract, Inside IR35)

Belcan Workforce Solutions is seeking an experienced Materials Engineering Lead to support a major international downstream refining and petrochemicals development programme, based in Reading. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a large-scale energy project involving advanced refinery upgrades, offsites, and integrated petrochemical facilities.

As the Materials Engineering Lead, you will provide discipline leadership throughout pre-FEED and FEED stages, ensuring materials, corrosion, metallurgy, welding, and refractory strategies are safe, compliant, and cost-effective. You will guide contractors, review key design deliverables, and influence technical decisions that shape long-term asset performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert materials guidance across corrosion control, metallurgy, non-metallics, and material selection.
• Review contractor engineering deliverables, ensuring alignment with project standards and safety requirements.
• Support design reviews, HAZID/HAZOP sessions, and materials-related risk assessments.
• Optimise engineering standards and support evaluation of new technologies and materials.
• Contribute to vendor qualification, material testing oversight, and quality assurance activities.

Essential Experience:

• 15+ years' experience in materials engineering within refining, petrochemical or heavy-oil processing projects.
• Strong understanding of corrosion mechanisms, material degradation, coatings, and inspection philosophies.
• Experience with large onshore energy projects, modular design considerations, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Ability to provide clear technical leadership and make risk-based decisions.

Contract & Pay:

• 12-month inside IR35 contract
• £43.17 - £58.46 PAYE
• £56.91 - £75.31 Umbrella
• Location: Reading, RG2 6GF
• Fully based on site

Apply now to join Belcan Workforce Solutions and take the next step in your career.

This vacancy is being advertised by Belcan