Research Chemical Engineer - Polymer Science

Placements24; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Research incentives

Health benefits

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 seeks an innovative Research Chemical Engineer specializing in Polymer Science to join its advanced R&D team in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). The role focuses on discovering and developing novel polymer materials and processes for commercial applications.

You'll work in state-of-the-art laboratories, collaborating with scientists and engineers to translate fundamental research into scalable products.

Qualifications

• PhD or master's in Chemical Engineering with polymer focus.
• At least 5 years post-graduate polymer research experience.
• Hands-on experience with polymerization techniques and materials characterization.
• Strong knowledge of polymer rheology, thermodynamics, and mechanical properties.
• Proven ability to manage research projects and publish findings.
• Exceptional scientific writing and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct fundamental and applied polymer synthesis, characterization, and processing research.
• Develop and optimize new polymer formulations and manufacturing techniques.
• Utilize analytical techniques to characterize polymer properties (GPC/DSC/NMR).
• Design experiments to study structure–property relationships in polymers.
• Collaborate with product development and engineering teams to scale up materials.
• Author technical reports, research papers, and patent applications.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Polymer characterization

Scientific writing

Presentation skills

Education

PhD or Master’s in Chemical Engineering (Polymer Science / Materials Science)

Tools

GPC

DSC

TGA

NMR

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an innovative Research Chemical Engineer specializing in Polymer Science to join their advanced R&D team in Port Elizabeth . This role focuses on the discovery and development of novel polymer materials and processes, contributing to the next generation of products. You will work in state-of-the-art laboratories, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers to translate fundamental research into viable commercial applications. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate researcher to drive innovation and contribute to breakthroughs in material science within a company dedicated to technological advancement.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct fundamental and applied research in polymer synthesis, characterization, and processing.
• Develop and optimize new polymer formulations and manufacturing techniques.
• Utilize advanced analytical techniques (e.g., GPC, DSC, TGA, NMR) to characterize polymer properties.
• Design and execute experiments to investigate structure-property relationships in polymers.
• Collaborate with product development and engineering teams to scale up new materials and processes.
• Author technical reports, research papers, and patent applications.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering with a focus on Polymer Science or Materials Science.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-graduate research experience in polymer chemistry and engineering.
• Hands-on experience with various polymerization techniques and polymer characterization methods.
• Strong understanding of polymer rheology, thermodynamics, and mechanical properties.
• Proven ability to conduct independent research and manage research projects.
• Excellent scientific writing and presentation skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and research incentives.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits.
• Access to cutting-edge research facilities and equipment.
• Support for professional growth, including conference attendance and publication opportunities.
• Relocation assistance available for candidates moving to Port Elizabeth.