Senior Materials Scientist: Lead Advanced Materials

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan with employer matching

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Research Scientist in Materials Engineering for its Upington innovation hub. You will lead design, synthesis, and testing of advanced materials for renewable energy, aerospace, and manufacturing applications, mentoring junior scientists and collaborating across departments.

Applicants should hold a PhD with 6+ years of related experience, and be capable of directing projects from concept to commercialization while publishing results and pursuing IP opportunities.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in materials R&D with demonstrated project leadership.
• Extensive knowledge of materials characterization techniques and structure–property relationships.
• Proven expertise in materials synthesis, processing, and fabrication.
• Experience with computational materials science tools (FEM, MD) is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, with a track record of publications and presentations.
• Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience in renewable energy or advanced manufacturing is a plus.
• Willingness to relocate to Upington, Northern Cape.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, synthesis, and characterization of advanced materials (polymers, composites, ceramics, metals).
• Develop innovative materials processing techniques to achieve desired microstructures and properties.
• Utilize characterization tools (SEM, TEM, XRD, DSC, mechanical testing) to evaluate performance.
• Conduct computational modeling to predict material behavior and guide experiments.
• Manage research projects from conception to completion within timelines and budgets.
• Mentor junior researchers and technicians.
• Collaborate with product development and engineering teams to bridge research and application.
• Publish in peer‑reviewed journals and present findings at conferences.
• Identify opportunities for IP and patent applications.
• Stay updated on advances in materials engineering and related disciplines.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication skills

Independent worker

Team collaboration

Relocation willingness

Education

PhD in Materials Science/Engineering

Tools

Finite Element Analysis

Molecular Dynamics

SEM

TEM

XRD

DSC

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Senior Research Scientist in Materials Engineering for its Upington innovation hub. You will lead design, synthesis, and testing of advanced materials for renewable energy, aerospace, and manufacturing applications, mentoring junior scientists and collaborating across departments.

Applicants should hold a PhD with 6+ years of related experience, and be capable of directing projects from concept to commercialization while publishing results and pursuing IP opportunities.