Materials & Process Engineering Intern

About Blue Neptune

Blue Neptune is developing advanced thermal insulation coatings for high-temperature industrial and aerospace applications. Our technology addresses critical thermal management challenges across multiple sectors, including defence, space, aviation, and energy-intensive industries.

As an early-stage deep-tech venture backed by leading accelerators and innovation programmes (including the European Space Agency Business Incubator, Undaunted Greenhouse, and Carbon13), we're at an exciting inflection point. We're translating cutting-edge materials science into commercially viable solutions that deliver both superior performance and meaningful carbon emissions reductions.

We're working with world-class research institutions and engaging with major industrial players across our target sectors as we scale from R&D to commercial deployment.

Role Purpose

We’re seeking an analytical, passionate and technically oriented intern to support Blue Neptune’s R&D team in developing, preparing, and testing thermal insulation coating formulations and architectures for high-temperature industrial and aerospace applications.

You’ll work hands-on in the lab to help translate early-stage materials science into repeatable, scalable coatings, contributing experimental data, documentation, and practical improvements to formulations and processes.

Key Responsibilities

Formulation and Coating Development

• Prepare and iterate coating formulations including precursor, solvent and formulation screening
• Support development of coating architectures to improve thermal performance, adhesion and durability
• Plan, prepare, and track samples/substrates for advanced coating steps, including cleaning, masking, labelling, and handling protocols.
• Apply coatings using lab-scale methods with attention to thickness control and repeatability.
• Support the development of other advanced coating process and methodologies
• Maintain detailed experimental records such as formulation logs, batch records, and sample traceability to enable consistent experimentation.

Testing, Characterisation & Data

• Conduct routine lab testing.
• Prepare samples for internal/external characterisation and interpret results with guidance
• Analyse data, identify trends, and summarise findings clearly for regular technical updates.

Lab operations & safety

• Follow all lab safety procedures (COSHH, PPE, waste segregation) and maintain tidy, audit-ready lab practices
• Contribute to the authorship of all H&S and/or compliance documentation
• Help with routine lab upkeep: stock checks, consumables ordering support, basic equipment calibration/maintenance logs.

Additional Scope

• Support in decision making and sample down selection
• Occasional travel to testing facilities across the country if required
• Write regular reports on the experimental work and present the results to stakeholders at request

Requirements

Essential

• Currently studying (or recently completed) a degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Hands-on wet lab experience (university labs, research projects, internships) with safe handling of chemicals and standard lab practice.
• Interest in coatings, porous materials and/or composites
• Strong experimental discipline: careful measurement, repeatability, structured note-taking, and comfort running iterative experiments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Attributes

• Self-starter who thrives in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
• Intellectual curiosity and willingness to dive deep into technical details
• Genuine interest in deep tech, sustainability, and/or industrial innovation
• Comfortable working independently with some ambiguity while collaborating closely with a small founding team
• Able to synthesis data and propose practical next-step experiments

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of low conductivity materials and/or ceramics
• Familiarity with common coating methods e.g. spray, sol-gel, PVD/CVD, etc
• Experience working in shared user-facilities environments.
• Experience in early-stage startups or innovation programmes

The applicant must be able to work on-site at our lab in White City, London for the majority of the internship.

What We Offer

• Real technical impact: Contribute directly to the development of high-temperature insulation coatings; your experiments will shape formulation and coating architecture decisions.
• Hands-on lab experience: Work side-by-side with the R&D team and founders in our White City lab, owning well-defined experimental workstreams from preparation to testing and reporting.
• Sector relevance: Build practical insight into materials challenges in aerospace, defence, energy-intensive industry, and climate-tech applications.
• Network access: Engage with world-class research institutions and industrial partners involved in validating and scaling the technology
• Flexibility: Access to our 24-hour lab space in White City, with some remote work possible for data analysis, write-ups, and planning (role remains primarily on-site).
• Professional development: Opportunity for mentorship and potential for extended engagement based on performance and mutual fit

How to Apply

Please send a CV and cover letter to recruitment@blue-neptune.com

Blue Neptune is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.