Materials Scientist - Polymer Research

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 850,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Conference attendance

Advanced lab facilities

Generous leave

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an innovative Materials Scientist to lead polymer research and development at their Queenstown R&D facility. The role focuses on designing, synthesizing, and characterizing advanced polymeric materials with unique properties to drive product innovation.

You will work in a dynamic team environment, contributing to projects that enhance material performance. A PhD or MSc in related fields is required, with hands-on polymerization and analytical instrumentation experience.

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel polymers with tailored properties for specific applications.
• Characterize polymers using analytical techniques including GPC, DSC, TGA, FTIR, and microscopy.
• Investigate structure-property relationships to optimize material performance.
• Develop and scale-up polymerization processes with reproducibility and efficiency.
• Collaborate with engineering and product development teams to integrate new materials into next-generation products.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Polymer characterization

Analytical instrumentation

Polymer processing

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Materials Science

MSc in Polymer Science or Chemistry

Tools

GPC

DSC

TGA

FTIR

Microscopy

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an innovative Materials Scientist to focus on Polymer Research and development within their cutting-edge R&D facility in Queenstown. This role is critical for designing, synthesizing, and characterizing advanced polymeric materials with unique properties. You will work in a dynamic team environment, contributing to projects that drive product innovation and material performance enhancement. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the advancement of material science in a collaborative research setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel polymers with tailored properties for specific applications.
• Characterize polymers using a range of analytical techniques, including GPC, DSC, TGA, FTIR, and microscopy.
• Investigate structure-property relationships to optimize material performance.
• Develop and scale-up polymerization processes, ensuring reproducibility and efficiency.
• Collaborate with engineering and product development teams to integrate new materials into next-generation products.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Proven experience in polymer synthesis, characterization, and processing.
• Hands-on expertise with various polymerization techniques and analytical instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of polymer physics and chemistry principles.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary with performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Opportunities for professional growth and attending relevant industry conferences.
• A stimulating research environment with access to advanced laboratories.
• Generous paid leave and holiday benefits.