Lead Materials Scientist - Advanced Composites (Hybrid)

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Medical & dental coverage

Pension fund contribution

Generous paid time off

Conference attendance

Job summary

Placements24 in Cape Town seeks a Lead Materials Scientist to spearhead R&D in advanced composite materials. You will lead a team of scientists and engineers, driving projects from concept to commercialization in a hybrid work setting.

The ideal candidate has a PhD with 8+ years in materials science, strong leadership, and deep knowledge of polymer chemistry, RTM/prepreg techniques, and comprehensive material characterization.

Qualifications

• PhD in a related field required.
• Minimum 8 years in materials R&D with a focus on composites.
• Proven leadership of R&D teams and projects.
• Expertise in polymer chemistry, composite manufacturing (RTM, prepreg lay-up), and material characterization.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D of novel advanced composite materials.
• Mentor a team of materials scientists and engineers.
• Oversee material characterization, testing, and failure analysis.
• Develop and optimize material processing techniques for composites.
• Collaborate with product teams to integrate new materials into products.
• Write technical proposals, reports, and patent applications.
• Present research findings to internal stakeholders and at conferences.
• Ensure safety and quality standards in the laboratory.

Skills

Team leadership

Scientific communication

IP management

Problem solving

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science/ related field

Tools

SEM

DSC

TGA

Mechanical testing

Job description

Placements24 in Cape Town seeks a Lead Materials Scientist to spearhead R&D in advanced composite materials. You will lead a team of scientists and engineers, driving projects from concept to commercialization in a hybrid work setting.

The ideal candidate has a PhD with 8+ years in materials science, strong leadership, and deep knowledge of polymer chemistry, RTM/prepreg techniques, and comprehensive material characterization.