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, forming, annealing, and quality control processes.

Technical Competencies

Deep understanding of glass formulation chemistry, including oxide systems (silicate, borate, phosphate, aluminosilicate, etc.).

Knowledge of how niobium oxides affect optical, mechanical, and dielectric properties of glass.

Experience with glass characterization techniques such as DSC, DTA, refractometry, XRD, SEM/EDS, and spectroscopy.

Awareness of industrial-scale manufacturing constraints and cost-performance trade-offs.

Personal Attributes

Recognized technical authority with a history of publications, patents, or conference presentations in glass science.

Excellent communication and writing skills, capable of translating complex science into accessible technical and marketing content.

Collaborative and pragmatic, able to engage confidently with scientists, engineers, and business stakeholders.

Available to commit up to 10 working days per month on a flexible consulting basis.

Why Join our client as a Consultant

Opportunity to influence the next generation of advanced glass technologies enabled by niobium.

Collaborate with a world-leading materials company with a robust innovation culture.

Engage in high-level technical and strategic discussions shaping global industry directions.

Flexible consulting arrangement with international exposure and intellectual engagement.

Application Process

Interested candidates or consulting professionals with a demonstrable track record in glass science and manufacturing are invited to submit:

A detailed CV outlining relevant technical and industrial experience.

A short statement describing expertise in glass formulation and processing, and familiarity with niobium or other modifying oxides.

Applications will be treated in strict confidence.