CDP is looking for a proactive and enthusiastic scientist to join our Applied Science group at a graduate level where you will work on innovative technology and product solutions for our clients. The role is suitable for candidates with a background in the physical sciences and experience with optical systems.

At CDP Applied Scientists work closely in multidisciplinary design and engineering teams providing subject matter knowledge and critical evidence-based thinking key to innovative products and technologies. In a commercial, client-facing environment you will apply practical and theoretical approaches to demonstrate feasibility and optimise performance for some of the most novel and technical challenges.

Applied Scientists combine foundational knowledge with creative, analytical and practical hands-on skills to conceive, test and optimise solutions to technical challenges. You will draw from your core knowledge to generate concepts and ideas, you will plan and execute testing activities using CDP’s laboratory & workshop areas, you will perform feasibility assessment and data analysis using a range of methods and tools. No two projects are the same, you will need to be flexible and able to adapt quickly to new challenges in order to deliver value to our clients.

You will be based in our state-of-the-art innovation labs and offices in Cambridge, with occasional travel to client sites.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to develop products for our external clients.
• Develop technical solutions for a range of products and processes, applying creative, analytical and practical skills.
• Communicate project progress through reports, in-person meetings, and video calls with external clients.
• Contribute to sales and marketing efforts, such as input to proposals or marketing collateral, or researching new technical areas.

This role is ideally suited to a recent graduate with autonomous experience of planning, executing and analysing technical work. Alternatively, someone with a strong science background who is looking for new challenges and a chance to work on tangible products that have real-world impacts. Passion for application of fundamental science and scientific methods to solving real-world product development challenges is essential.

Experience and education

• Essential:
  • An excellent academic record with a degree, master’s degree or PhD in the physical sciences.
  • Practical, autonomous experience working in laboratories and with test and measurement equipment.
  • Experience with optics and optical systems: designing, building, testing.
• Desired:
  • Multidisciplinary experience in addition to a core Physical Sciences background (e.g., biophysics, biochemistry, multiphysics simulation).
  • Experience planning and executing research activities.

  Skills and Attributes

• Passionate and proactive with a strong desire to apply scientific methods and evidence-based decision making to generate novel concepts and realise products for our clients.
• Confidence with fundamental physical science subjects, able to apply flexibly and creatively to solve problems and design challenges.
• Subject matter knowledge and hands-on experience in a range of areas, for example optical systems, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, system modelling.
• Theoretical and experimental assessment of concepts and prototypes – planning, execution, analysis and presentation.
• Motivated to learn and grow, with the ambition to develop autonomy and leadership.
• Confidence operating in a fast-paced commercial and client-facing environment.
• Keen to collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues, sharing ideas, contributing to a positive culture.

• Excellent presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills with a range of audiences.

Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an end-to-end innovation partner, propelling global brands and ambitious start-ups to success. We build breakthrough products and services – from insight to ideas, prototypes to production – bringing innovation to life. Our teams are multi-disciplinary, uniting scientific rigor, design ingenuity, and engineering excellence for consumer and healthcare clients. People-centred, deeply collaborative, and – above all – expert, we’re uniquely positioned to shape the future for consumers, patients, and industry. Even our ownership model is innovative: We’re 100% owned by our employees, ensuring an open culture and a total commitment to our projects’ success. As part of our benefits package, we offer:

• flexible working
• a discretionary bonus
• excellent learning and development opportunities
• a 12% non-contributory pension
• private healthcare
• electric vehicle lease salary sacrifice scheme
• share incentive plan
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays