Remote Senior Polymer Scientist — Advanced Materials

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home office stipend

Annual performance bonus

Comprehensive health insurance

Retirement plan with company matching

Conference funding and continuing ed

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist to join a fully remote R&D team focused on advanced polymers. You will design, synthesize, and characterize novel polymer materials, guiding structure-property relationships and exploring new applications across electronics, automotive, and healthcare sectors.

The role emphasizes independent project leadership, collaboration with a global team, and ongoing innovation in polymer science, with generous benefits and remote-first flexibility.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Polymer Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years post-doctoral or industrial polymer research experience.
• Expertise in polymer synthesis (free radical, condensation, ionic polymerization).
• Hands-on experience with polymer characterization techniques.
• Strong understanding of polymer physics and mechanics.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage projects remotely.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with computational modeling of polymers is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate and develop new materials.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel polymer architectures and formulations.
• Characterize material properties using analytical techniques (GPC, DSC, TGA, FTIR, SEM, tensile testing).
• Develop structure-property relationships to guide material design.
• Investigate and optimize polymerization processes.
• Explore and develop new applications for advanced polymer materials.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including R&D chemists, engineers, and product development specialists.
• Document research findings comprehensively and prepare technical reports and presentations.
• Stay abreast of latest advancements in polymer science and related fields.
• Troubleshoot material-related issues and provide technical expertise.
• Contribute to intellectual property development through patent filings.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Materials science

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Remote work

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science/Polymer Chemistry/Chemical Engineering

Tools

GPC

DSC

TGA

FTIR

SEM

Tensile testing

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist to join a fully remote R&D team focused on advanced polymers. You will design, synthesize, and characterize novel polymer materials, guiding structure-property relationships and exploring new applications across electronics, automotive, and healthcare sectors.

The role emphasizes independent project leadership, collaboration with a global team, and ongoing innovation in polymer science, with generous benefits and remote-first flexibility.