Senior Polymer Scientist - Hybrid R&D Leader

Placements24; Amesville (CT); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan with company matching

Paid time off

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24, a global leader in materials science, seeks a Senior Materials Scientist to join its R&D division. Based in Rustenburg, ZA, the role focuses on the development and characterization of advanced polymer materials for high-performance applications, with a hybrid model offering remote work alongside on-site lab access.

You will lead projects, design experiments using spectroscopy, microscopy, DSC, TGA, FTIR and NMR, mentor researchers, publish results, and help translate lab findings

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in materials science R&D with a focus on polymers.
• Expertise in polymer synthesis and characterization techniques (GPC, DSC, TGA, FTIR, NMR)
• Experience with polymer processing methods (extrusion, injection molding, additive manufacturing).
• Strong project management and ability to lead complex research from concept to completion.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D projects for synthesis, processing, and characterization of advanced polymer systems.
• Investigate structure–property relationships to optimize material performance for applications.
• Design and execute experiments using spectroscopy, microscopy, and thermal analysis.
• Collaborate with engineering to translate lab findings into scalable manufacturing processes.
• Develop intellectual property through patents and publications.
• Troubleshoot material-related issues in manufacturing and product performance.
• Mentor junior scientists and manage project timelines and resources.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Polymer characterization

Structure-property relations

Mechanical testing

Polymer processing

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science or related

Tools

GPC

DSC

TGA

FTIR

NMR

Computational modeling

Job description

Placements24, a global leader in materials science, seeks a Senior Materials Scientist to join its R&D division. Based in Rustenburg, ZA, the role focuses on the development and characterization of advanced polymer materials for high-performance applications, with a hybrid model offering remote work alongside on-site lab access.

You will lead projects, design experiments using spectroscopy, microscopy, DSC, TGA, FTIR and NMR, mentor researchers, publish results, and help translate lab findings