Principal Research Scientist - Materials Engineering

Placements24; Upington; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Professional development

Research facilities

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal Research Scientist in Materials Engineering to lead advanced research projects in Mahikeng. This senior role involves conceiving, designing, and executing initiatives focused on novel materials for demanding industrial applications, with collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.

You'll mentor junior researchers, publish in high-impact journals, and contribute to the organization’s IP portfolio while driving innovation in materials engineering and related

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant industry or academic research experience in materials engineering.
• Proven expertise in material synthesis, processing, characterization, and performance evaluation.
• Strong understanding of structure-property relationships in materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites) for applications.
• Design and conduct experiments to characterize properties, performance, and degradation.
• Use SEM, TEM, XRD, and mechanical testing for material analysis.
• Develop theoretical models and simulations to predict material behavior.
• Collaborate with product teams to translate findings into technologies.
• Publish findings in high-impact journals and present at international conferences.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Experimental design

Mentorship

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science/Engineering

7+ years experience

Tools

SEM

TEM

XRD

Computational tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an innovative Principal Research Scientist specializing in Materials Engineering to lead advanced research projects in Mahikeng. This senior role involves conceptualizing, designing, and executing research initiatives focused on the development and application of novel materials for demanding industrial applications. You will work with cutting-edge technologies, collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, and contribute to the intellectual property portfolio of the organization. This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned materials scientist to drive innovation, mentor junior researchers, and make significant contributions to the field of advanced materials.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of new materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers, or composites, for specific applications.
• Design and conduct experiments to characterize material properties, performance, and degradation mechanisms.
• Utilize advanced techniques such as SEM, TEM, XRD, and mechanical testing for material analysis.
• Develop theoretical models and simulations to predict material behavior and guide experimental design.
• Collaborate with product development teams to translate research findings into viable technologies.
• Publish research findings in high-impact journals and present at international conferences.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant industry or academic research experience in materials engineering.
• Proven expertise in material synthesis, processing, characterization, and performance evaluation.
• Strong understanding of structure-property relationships in materials.
• Experience with computational materials science tools is a strong advantage.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and extensive bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive health, retirement, and wellness programs.
• Significant investment in professional development and continuous learning.
• Access to world-class research facilities and equipment in Mahikeng .
• An environment that fosters cutting-edge research and innovation in materials engineering .