Consultant/Subject Matter Expert - Niobium Glass Development
Our client is the world's leading producer and supplier of niobium products, driving innovation across sectors including mobility, energy, construction, and advanced materials. Headquartered in Brazil and operating globally, our client's mission is to unlock the full potential of niobium to enable technological advancements that make modern life more efficient, sustainable, and connected.
As part of its strategic expansion, our client is advancing its work in niobium-containing glass, a growing field where niobium enhances the optical, dielectric, and radiation-shielding properties of glass, as well as its performance in energy storage and electronic applications.
ROLE OVERVIEW
Or client seeks to appoint an External Consultant with deep expertise in glass development and manufacturing technologies, particularly in high-performance and specialty glass formulations. The Consultant will serve as a technical authority supporting their internal teams in advancing niobium glass technology, supporting R&D, market development, and strategic collaborations with industrial and academic partners.
This is a consultative role designed for an individual with significant scientific and industrial experience in glass technology. The Consultant will contribute technical expertise to white papers, technical communications, customer collaborations, and new product development initiatives.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical Expertise & Advisory
Provide authoritative guidance on glass formulation design, including the incorporation of niobium oxide and related compounds.
Advise on manufacturing routes, melting technologies, and processing methods for specialty and optical glasses.
Evaluate and recommend process parameters, raw material selections, and production optimizations to enhance performance and cost efficiency.
Research & Development Support
Support ongoing and future R&D projects focused on niobium-containing glasses for optical, dielectric, radiation shielding, or energy applications.
Interpret experimental results and provide insight into glass structure–property relationships.
Assist in the design of experimental plans, pilot trials, and scale-up activities.
Customer & Partner Collaboration
Engage with customers, industrial partners, and research institutions to support technical discussions and collaborative projects.
Act as a credible subject-matter expert representing our client in joint development activities.
Knowledge Dissemination
Contribute to the preparation of white papers, technical brochures, and marketing materials articulating the benefits of niobium in glass applications.
Support technical presentations at conferences, seminars, and industry events.
Provide training and knowledge-sharing sessions for staff and collaborators.
Strategic Input
Advise on potential market opportunities and emerging trends in specialty glass technologies.
Provide insight into the R&D focus areas of leading glass manufacturers and academic institutions.
Support their strategic positioning as a technology enabler within the glass sector
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Education & Credentials
PhD (or equivalent doctoral-level qualification) in Materials Science, Glass Science, Ceramic Engineering, or related discipline.
Strong academic grounding in glass chemistry, formulation science, and structure–property relationships.
Professional Experience
Minimum 20 years of relevant professional experience in glass development, manufacturing, and processing.
Background in one or more of the following sectors:
Optical glass (e.g. precision optics, lenses, imaging systems)
Technical or electronic glass (e.g. substrates, coatings, dielectrics)
Specialty or radiation-shielding glass
Proven track record with leading glass manufacturers or research institutions (e.g. Corning, Schott, Asahi, Ohara, Hoyer, Carl Zeiss, or comparable organizations).
Hands-on familiarity with melting technologies, batch design, fining, form