Remote Principal Mechanical Engineer - R&D Innovator

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

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work flexibility

Competitive salary and benefits

Professional development budgets

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead remote R&D initiatives for next-generation mechanical systems.

You will drive innovation, supervise advanced modeling and validation, and mentor engineering teams while collaborating with product and business units across locations. This role emphasizes strategic R&D leadership and technical excellence in a fully remote setting.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field.
• 12+ years of extensive experience in mechanical engineering with a focus on R&D and innovation.
• Proven ability to develop and bring innovative mechanical solutions to market.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Proficiency in advanced simulation and modeling tools (e.g., ANSYS, COMSOL, MATLAB/Simulink).
• Experience presenting complex technical information to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization, design, and prototyping of novel mechanical systems for next-generation products.
• Conduct advanced theoretical and experimental research to explore new principles and technologies.
• Develop and validate complex engineering models and simulations using state-of-the-art software tools.
• Author technical documentation, papers, and patent applications from R&D activities.
• Provide expert technical consultation and mentorship to engineering teams.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD or Master’s in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

COMSOL

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead remote R&D initiatives for next-generation mechanical systems.

You will drive innovation, supervise advanced modeling and validation, and mentor engineering teams while collaborating with product and business units across locations. This role emphasizes strategic R&D leadership and technical excellence in a fully remote setting.