Senior Materials Scientist — Lead Advanced Materials R&D

Placements24; Richards Bay; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health and wellness benefits

Strong retirement savings plan

Generous paid time off

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, invites a Senior Research Scientist in Material Science to lead synthesis, characterization, and development of advanced materials. You will guide projects end-to-end, mentoring researchers while collaborating with engineers to translate discoveries into real-world applications.

The role demands a PhD and 6+ years in R&D with a proven materials development record, strong analytical skills, and effective communication.

Qualifications

• PhD required in a relevant field.
• 6+ years post-doctoral or industrial R&D experience in materials science.
• Proven track record in development and characterization of advanced materials.
• Experience with diverse material classes (polymers, composites, metals, ceramics).
• Hands-on experience with material characterization and testing equipment.
• Strong understanding of materials processing and manufacturing techniques.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and project management experience.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of experiments for synthesis, characterization, and testing of new materials.
• Investigate structure-property relationships in advanced materials.
• Use SEM, TEM, XRD, DSC, TGA to analyze material properties.
• Develop and optimize material processing techniques.
• Collaborate with product teams to translate findings into applications.
• Manage research projects including planning, budgeting, and timelines.
• Write technical reports, papers, and patent applications.
• Present findings to internal stakeholders and conferences.
• Mentor junior researchers and technicians.
• Ensure adherence to safety protocols in R&D environment.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Communication skills

Problem solving

Critical thinking

Collaborative work

Education

PhD in Material Science, Chemistry, Physics, or related field

Job description

Placements24 in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, invites a Senior Research Scientist in Material Science to lead synthesis, characterization, and development of advanced materials. You will guide projects end-to-end, mentoring researchers while collaborating with engineers to translate discoveries into real-world applications.

The role demands a PhD and 6+ years in R&D with a proven materials development record, strong analytical skills, and effective communication.