Senior Polymer Scientist — Materials Innovation

Placements24; Willows (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

Pension fund

Professional development

Modern lab facilities

R&D projects

Welkom team

Annual leave

Job summary

Placements24 in Welkom, South Africa, is seeking a Senior Research Scientist in Polymer Chemistry to join our R&D team. You will design advanced polymer architectures, optimize synthesis, and characterize materials to meet performance targets for coatings, adhesives, and composites.

You will lead projects, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate lab discoveries into scalable products at the Welkom facility in South Africa.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years post-doctoral research experience in polymer synthesis and characterization.
• Expertise in polymerization techniques and polymer analysis methods.
• Strong understanding of polymer physics and structure-property relationships.
• Experience with formulation development and material testing is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel polymers with tailored properties.
• Optimize reaction conditions and scalable processes for polymer production.
• Characterize polymers using GPC, NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and mechanical testing.
• Investigate structure-property relationships and correlate polymer characteristics with performance.
• Develop and evaluate new polymer formulations for specific end-uses.
• Conduct literature reviews and stay updated on advancements in polymer chemistry.
• Manage R&D projects, including planning, execution, and reporting of results.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior researchers.
• Collaborate with engineering and product development teams to transition materials to production.
• Author technical reports, patents, and publications.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Polymer synthesis

Polymer analysis

Structure-property relationships

Statistical analysis

Project management

Mentoring

Education

Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Materials Science, or related field

Tools

GPC

NMR

FTIR

DSC

TGA

Job description

Placements24 in Welkom, South Africa, is seeking a Senior Research Scientist in Polymer Chemistry to join our R&D team. You will design advanced polymer architectures, optimize synthesis, and characterize materials to meet performance targets for coatings, adhesives, and composites.

You will lead projects, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate lab discoveries into scalable products at the Welkom facility in South Africa.