Job Description

Job number

ENG03664

Faculties

Faculty of Engineering

Departments

Dyson School of Design Engineering

Salary or Salary range

49,017 - 57,472 per annum

Location/campus

South Kensington Campus - Hybrid

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

13 Oct 2025

About the role

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Are you passionate about designing the future of sustainable technology?


We are seeking a researcher to investigate the sustainability of emerging e-textiles and develop innovative tools to help designers, engineers, and manufacturers make better decisions. Working at the heart of a major EU project, you'll turn scientific insight into practical guidance - collaborating with world-leading scientists, engineers, and designers to embed sustainability from the very first thought.

What you would be doing

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You will play a central role in the EU-funded STELEC project (stelec.eu), which is developing the next generation of textile-based electronics for applications ranging from sensing and data processing to AI. Your mission will be to ensure these products are conceived, designed, and developed with sustainability at their core.



You will work across disciplines - bridging the gap between creative design and technical engineering - to understand the environmental and social impacts of e-textiles. You'll gather and analyse data, map out full life cycles, and identify opportunities for improvement. Your findings will inform practical tools and resources that help others make better design decisions, whether they are building prototypes in the lab or designing garments in the studio.



In your day-to-day work, you will:


Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and designers to bridge technical and creative disciplines. Analyse material and process data to build life cycle models for emerging e-textile technologies. Assess the social and environmental impacts of the technologies being developed. Facilitate workshops to uncover challenges, explore trade-offs, and identify opportunities for sustainability. Develop engaging, accessible tools - from visual maps to decision-support systems - that empower others to integrate sustainable design into their work.

Your work will influence not only the STELEC project, but will help others trying to incorporate sustainability at very early stages of technology development, and will push forwards the global conversation about how wearable technology can be part of a cleaner, fairer future.

What we are looking for

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We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds, such as design, engineering, business, environmental science, or related fields. You don't need to tick every box to apply - but above all, you'll be curious, collaborative, and ready to work across disciplines to make a tangible difference.



You will bring many of the following:


The ability to create compelling visual communication materials - such as maps, diagrams, and data visualisations. Skills in working across disciplines to connect technical, creative, and environmental perspectives. Understanding of sustainable design principles - such as life cycle mapping and social and environmental analysis (experience with Life Cycle Assessment is desirable but not essential). Confidence in prototyping ideas and testing them with others - for example, through workshops or user trials. Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable guidance.

We believe innovation is stronger when it draws on diverse perspectives. We particularly welcome applications from women and other groups underrepresented in STEM, and we are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

What we can offer you

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Participation in a large EU project with international travel to project meetings and conferences to network with the sustainable design and interactive systems communities. An interdisciplinary environment in a dynamic Design Engineering School that is home to an innovative community of problem solvers and opportunity finders. The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity. Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes). Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

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This is a full-time post (35 hours per week). This role is for a fixed-term contract for 24 months (2 years) to start in early 2026 (no later than March).



The position is based in the Strategic Futures Design Lab, working at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and futures - to navigate complexity, harness emerging technology and build better futures through design. We develop tools, systems and strategies that help people and organisations design sustainable and equitable futures.



We are based in the pioneering Dyson School of Design Engineering - home to a large transdisciplinary innovation community built on the power of design. We empower innovators and decision-makers to harness the power of a rigorous and creative discipline that constructs better social and technical systems using new technologies as building blocks. By fusing the technical to the human, we're helping to create a world that's just, sustainable, and teeming with possibilities.



If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Leila Sheldrick l.sheldrick@imperial.ac.uk.

Available documents

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Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.


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About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.



Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.



This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.


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Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.