Senior Automotive Materials Engineer - Lightweight Systems

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Advanced material testing labs

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Upington, Northern Cape, is seeking a Senior Automotive Materials Engineer to lead research, testing, and the application of advanced materials for vehicle components. You will drive improvements in performance, durability, safety, and sustainability throughout the product lifecycle.

The role requires expertise in polymers, metals, and coatings, with collaboration across design, engineering, and manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Materials Science, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering; PhD preferred.
• 5+ years in automotive materials engineering.
• In-depth knowledge of polymers, composites, metals, alloys and coatings.
• Experience with characterization techniques (spectroscopy, microscopy, mechanical testing).
• Familiarity with automotive material standards (SAE).
• Strong root-cause analysis and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Research and select appropriate materials for automotive applications based on performance, cost, and sustainability.
• Develop and implement material specifications, testing procedures, and QC standards.
• Conduct material testing for strength, durability, corrosion resistance and thermal performance.
• Collaborate with design and engineering teams to integrate new materials into components.
• Investigate material failures and recommend corrective actions.
• Stay current with emerging material technologies and regulatory requirements.
• Work with suppliers to source materials and ensure quality and consistency.
• Contribute to lightweighting and use of recycled or bio-based materials.

Skills

Materials science

Automotive materials

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Master's in Materials Science

PhD preferred

Tools

SAE standards

Material selection software

Job description

Placements24 in Upington, Northern Cape, is seeking a Senior Automotive Materials Engineer to lead research, testing, and the application of advanced materials for vehicle components. You will drive improvements in performance, durability, safety, and sustainability throughout the product lifecycle.

The role requires expertise in polymers, metals, and coatings, with collaboration across design, engineering, and manufacturing.