Principal Nanotechnology Engineer & R&D Leader

Placements24; Rustenburg; On-site; ZAR 1,400,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Retirement plan with company matching

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Nanotechnology Engineer to lead R&D initiatives at our Rustenburg facility. You will design, fabricate, and characterize nanomaterials and devices across electronics, medicine, and energy, translating theory into scalable solutions.

This senior role offers leadership opportunities, mentoring of scientists and engineers, collaboration with cross‑functional teams, and the chance to shape the future of nanotechnology in a globally recognised organisation.

Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• 8+ years of progressive experience in nanotechnology R&D
• Experience leading research projects and mentoring junior staff
• Strong communication skills and ability to publish findings

Responsibilities

• Lead the research, development, and scale‑up of advanced nanomaterials and nanotech devices.
• Oversee nanoscale synthesis, characterization, and fabrication experiments.
• Develop and implement characterization techniques (TEM/SEM/AFM) and spectroscopy.
• Analyze data, draw conclusions, and define next steps for research.
• Mentor junior engineers and researchers and collaborate with cross‑functional teams.
• Prepare technical reports, papers, and conference presentations.
• Stay abreast of nanotech advances and contribute to IP strategy.

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Nanotechnology Engineer to lead R&D initiatives at our Rustenburg facility. You will design, fabricate, and characterize nanomaterials and devices across electronics, medicine, and energy, translating theory into scalable solutions.

This senior role offers leadership opportunities, mentoring of scientists and engineers, collaboration with cross‑functional teams, and the chance to shape the future of nanotechnology in a globally recognised organisation.