Senior Materials Scientist - Hybrid R&D Leader

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement contributions

Hybrid work arrangement

Professional growth

Job summary

Placements24 in Nelspruit is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist to lead R&D projects in our advanced materials division. You will design, synthesize, characterize, and test novel materials for next-generation technologies, collaborating with engineers and scientists to translate research into practical solutions.

The ideal candidate has a PhD and 6+ years in materials R&D, extensive lab experience with characterization techniques, and strong communication and project-management skills.

Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 6+ years of progressive experience in materials R&D.
• Extensive experience with materials characterization techniques and interpretation of results.
• Strong knowledge of materials synthesis and processing methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead research, development, and characterization of new materials (polymers, ceramics, composites).
• Design and execute experiments to study properties, performance, and processing techniques.
• Use SEM, TEM, XRD, and thermal analysis for material characterization.
• Develop structure-property relationships to guide design and optimization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate materials into product development.
• Prepare technical reports, proposals, and present findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Materials science

Synthesis methods

Analytical thinking

Communication

Project management

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science or related field

Tools

SEM

TEM

XRD

Thermal analysis

Job description

Placements24 in Nelspruit is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist to lead R&D projects in our advanced materials division. You will design, synthesize, characterize, and test novel materials for next-generation technologies, collaborating with engineers and scientists to translate research into practical solutions.

The ideal candidate has a PhD and 6+ years in materials R&D, extensive lab experience with characterization techniques, and strong communication and project-management skills.