Lead Polymer Scientist — Advanced Polymers R&D

Placements24; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Professional development

State-of-the-art lab facilities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist in Bloemfontein to lead R&D on advanced polymers, drive concept-to-commercialization, and mentor junior scientists. The role focuses on synthesis, characterization, processing, and collaboration with cross- functional teams.

You will work with state-of-the-art facilities, applying NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, TEM, and mechanical testing to develop new methodologies and publish research while contributing to the strategic materials portfolio.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field.
• Minimum 6 years of R&D experience in polymer science.
• Expertise in polymer synthesis, characterization, and processing.
• Proficiency with techniques such as NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, TEM, tensile testing.
• Strong understanding of polymer physics, rheology, and mechanics.
• Experience with computational modeling of polymer behavior.
• Demonstrated ability to lead research projects and manage technical challenges.
• Excellent problem-solving and creative innovation.
• Strong written and verbal communication; team-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Lead the R&D of novel advanced polymer materials, focusing on synthesis, formulation, and processing.
• Characterize material properties using advanced analytical techniques (spectroscopy, microscopy, thermal analysis, mechanical testing).
• Investigate structure–property relationships to optimize material performance for applications.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to translate innovations into practical solutions.
• Develop and validate new experimental methodologies and protocols.
• Troubleshoot material-related issues in development and manufacturing.
• Mentor junior scientists and technicians within the R&D team.
• Author technical reports, publications, and patent applications.
• Stay current with advancements in polymer science and related fields.
• Contribute to strategic direction of the materials science portfolio.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Polymer characterization

Polymer processing

NMR

FTIR

DSC

TGA

SEM

TEM

Tensile testing

Rheology

Mechanics

Computational modeling

Project leadership

Technical problem-solving

Scientific communication

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist in Bloemfontein to lead R&D on advanced polymers, drive concept-to-commercialization, and mentor junior scientists. The role focuses on synthesis, characterization, processing, and collaboration with cross- functional teams.

You will work with state-of-the-art facilities, applying NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, TEM, and mechanical testing to develop new methodologies and publish research while contributing to the strategic materials portfolio.