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Use your innovative mind and problem-solving skills to improve manufacturing systems and goods as a product/process development scientist

Manufacturing companies rely on development scientists to enhance both the efficiency and profitability of everyday products, and the processes used to make them. These products span a range of industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and paint.

Development science falls into two main areas - process development and product development. You may specialise in one or work across both, depending on the organisation and your skills.

As a process development scientist, you'll focus on optimising manufacturing systems by developing new processes and implementing quality controls. In product development, you'll collaborate with research teams to turn new ideas into products and improve existing ones.

Responsibilities

In process development, you'll need to:

• devise new processes, or refine existing ones, to optimise the manufacturing process
• plan, carry out and supervise process trials in laboratories, pilot plants or factories
• scale up the production process via plant trials, making changes to raw materials or components, and process parameters to ensure quality is maintained during large-scale production
• improve yields by reducing costs, such as investigating alternative materials or new machinery to improve efficiency and quality in bottleneck areas
• devise test methods to assess the production process
• validate new processes and show that they're an improvement
• work with product pipelines at various stages of development
• develop formulae, specifications and label declarations, and ensure compliance with the finished product specifications
• advise on equipment modification to enable process changes for new product development
• read and write technical reports and specifications, maintaining appropriate records
• initiate and generate ideas based on reading and research.

In product development, you'll:

• formulate and establish product design and performance objectives, normally in consultation with other functions, including research, marketing and production, as well as contractors, suppliers and customers
• respond to customer requirements, liaising with suppliers of raw materials and resolving production problems
• conduct test protocols and procedures and product evaluation
• transfer new technologies across a range of product categories
• write technical reports and cost estimates, documenting development work and implementing profit improvement programmes
• generate data to substantiate claims regarding the safety and efficiency of new products (this applies particularly to the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector)
• oversee the integration of new products with other commercial areas, including brand development, sales strategy, quality assurance, legal, marketing and manufacturing.

Both job roles may involve presenting findings to senior staff, mentoring colleagues, and staying informed through trade publications, networking, or attending industry events and conferences.

Salary

• Starting salaries typically range from £25,000 to £32,000.
• With experience, you could earn between £35,000 and £45,000.
• Senior development scientists or those in management roles can earn from £50,000 to £70,000 or more.

Salaries vary depending on location, sector, and the size of the organisation. A relevant postgraduate qualification may increase your earning potential.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Working hours are mainly 9am to 5pm. Extra hours may be required on some occasions and may be more irregular during critical development phases or when problems arise.

What to expect

• The working environment varies depending on the nature of the job but may include a plant or factory floor, laboratory or office.
• Depending on your duties, protective clothing - including headwear and glasses - may be required.
• The work can be stressful at times, for example when launching a new production line, overseeing several projects running concurrently or meeting a tight deadline to fulfil customer requirements.
• There is frequent contact with research and technical staff, and liaison with customers, suppliers and management.
• Women and other underrepresented groups continue to face barriers in some areas of science, engineering and manufacturing. Initiatives such as WISE and the STEM Ambassadors programme aim to support inclusion and increase diversity across the sector.

Qualifications

You'll typically need a degree to become a product/process development scientist. As the workload can be varied, a mixture of skills is needed meaning your degree can be from a range of subjects. The following are particularly relevant:

• agricultural or horticultural sciences
• applied life sciences
• biochemical and biological sciences
• chemical and physical sciences
• chemical, process or electrical engineering
• food science, technology or engineering
• materials science
• mechanical and production engineering
• mineral and mining engineering.

Entry without a degree is unlikely, although it may be possible to enter at a lower level as a technician. A degree or professional qualification would then have to be gained to progress to the role of development scientist.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not essential, but a relevant applied MSc or PhD can be advantageous and will aid future career development. Holding a postgraduate qualification is also likely to increase your earnings.

Information on available funding and studentships for postgraduate study and research can be found at the .

You may be able to enter the career through a . This involves working on a project jointly with a company and a 'knowledge base', such as a university or research organisation. It provides the chance to get a professional qualification, be mentored at work and apply your research in a commercial setting.

Skills

You'll need to evidence:

• good communication skills for effective liaison and teamwork
• problem-solving skills, analytical skills and attention to detail
• excellent organisational skills and the ability to work on several tasks or projects concurrently
• commercial acumen and an awareness of the business value of work undertaken
• presentation skills - for presenting ideas and findings to colleagues and customers
• the ability to work well independently, with minimum supervision
• drive, enthusiasm and self-motivation
• an aptitude for mathematics and statistics and highly developed IT and technical skills.

Work experience

Experience in a production environment or industrial laboratory, either as vacation work or as a sandwich year placement, will give you an advantage.

Knowledge of good laboratory and manufacturing practice is also helpful.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Process development scientists work in a range of industrial sectors where raw materials are converted by chemical, biological, physical or technological processes into intermediate and finished products. Product development scientists also work right across the manufacturing sector.

Major employers for both are found in the following industries:

• biotechnology
• fine chemicals
• food
• pharmaceutical
• speciality chemicals.

Other employers include manufacturers of toiletries, consumer goods (including cleaning materials) and other materials, such as plastic, glass and metals.

There are more opportunities for work with large employers, where you could be working on several different projects at the same time.

Smaller employers may offer greater responsibility early on, but the work is often focused on a narrower range of products or processes.

Look for job vacancies at:

Speculative applications can be effective, especially if sent to large companies who may recruit more frequently.

Professional development

Most process and product development training is done on the job. It includes design, production, plant operation and quality control.

Training will probably be based in the laboratory or workshop at first, with exposure to manufacturing at scale later. If training in manufacturing is given, it will include safety, management and regulatory and compliance issues. Training in a range of generic skills, such as time management and leadership is also usual.

Many companies operate a mentoring system, where a more experienced member of staff offers confidential help and support on a one-to-one basis to a new or less experienced colleague.

You may be selected as a qualified person (QP) in your organisation if you're working in the pharmaceutical industry. This is a crucial role, as the QP is responsible for approving and certifying the release of pharmaceutical products, for use with both humans and animals. This requires specialised training and membership of a relevant professional body. Applications are assessed for QP eligibility by the following organisations:

Your employer may support you in gaining further qualifications, such as a postgraduate or research degree, or a management qualification. Professional qualifications may be obtained through part-time study, self-directed learning or assessment, organised by the appropriate professional body. You may also work towards chartered status with the right experience behind you.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential in this role. Staying current with industry trends and innovations can involve attending conferences, taking short courses, and engaging with professional bodies for networking and skills development.

Career prospects

As you gain experience and develop expertise, through working on a variety of projects, you'll gradually take on greater responsibility. This will involve managing larger and higher-profile projects and supervising other members of staff, including scientists and technicians.

Undertaking training and other development activities will help you gain knowledge and keep up to date with best practice and technological advances. You may develop a specific technical specialism or become a specialist in a particular industrial sector.

There are opportunities to move into other production or research and development roles. Some scientists move into business functions or commercial roles. These include:

• finance
• IT
• marketing
• senior management positions
• supply chain management
• technical sales.

If you've been working as a process development scientist, moving into or consultancy may be possible once you've built significant experience. This path is less common for product development scientists, as the work often requires costly lab facilities and equipment.

If you've been working as a process development scientist, progression to self-employment or freelance work as a consultant may be possible, but only after you've gained a significant amount of experience. There is less scope for this move for scientists in product development, due to the high capital costs involved.