Senior Geothermal Energy Scientist — Remote SA

Placements24; Pietermaritzburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Fully remote role

Medical coverage

Retirement plan contributions

Conference and development support

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Geothermal Energy Scientist to lead groundbreaking R&D initiatives in geothermal exploration and resource optimization. This fully remote role enables you to contribute from anywhere in South Africa, focusing on advancing understanding of geothermal resources, designing exploration strategies, and optimizing energy extraction.

You will mentor junior scientists, publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, and collaborate with engineering teams to integrate

Qualifications

• PhD in Earth Sciences with geothermal specialization.
• 10+ years of progressive geothermal exploration or related research.
• Proven expertise in geological/geophysical data analysis, well logging, and reservoir modeling.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent communication and remote team leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead scientific R&D programs focused on geothermal resource assessment, exploration, and exploitation.
• Design and interpret geological, geophysical, and geochemical surveys to identify and characterize reservoirs.
• Develop and refine numerical models for reservoir simulation and performance prediction.
• Oversee drilling program planning and execution for exploration and production wells.
• Analyze well logs, core samples, and production data to optimize reservoir management.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate geothermal with power or direct-use applications.
• Author scientific publications, technical reports, and grant proposals.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to the scientific direction of the company.
• Stay abreast of cutting-edge geothermal research and global developments.

Skills

Geothermal energy research

Reservoir modeling

Geophysics data analysis

Well logging

Remote leadership

Academic publishing

Thermodynamics & heat transfer

Education

PhD in Earth Sciences (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry) or related field

Tools

Reservoir simulation software

Well-logging tools

Geochemical analysis software

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Geothermal Energy Scientist to lead groundbreaking R&D initiatives in geothermal exploration and resource optimization. This fully remote role enables you to contribute from anywhere in South Africa, focusing on advancing understanding of geothermal resources, designing exploration strategies, and optimizing energy extraction.

You will mentor junior scientists, publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, and collaborate with engineering teams to integrate