Senior Materials Scientist - Polymer Composites

Placements24; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance incentives

Access to advanced laboratory equip.

Conferences and professional growth

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Materials Scientist specializing in Polymer Composites to join a Port Elizabeth R&D team. You will design, develop, and characterize innovative composite materials with enhanced properties for industrial applications.

You will lead projects, collaborate with engineering teams, and contribute to intellectual property generation while applying polymer science, processing, and characterization expertise in a state-of-the-art materials facility.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of industrial experience in development and characterization of polymer composites.
• Extensive knowledge of polymer chemistry, composite manufacturing processes, and material testing methodologies.
• Proficiency with material characterization techniques such as DSC, TGA, FTIR, SEM, and mechanical testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead research and development initiatives for new polymer composite materials and formulations.
• Design and conduct experiments to characterize material properties, including mechanical, thermal, and chemical resistance.
• Develop and optimize processing techniques for composite materials, such as molding, extrusion, and additive manufacturing.
• Collaborate with product development and engineering teams to translate material innovations into commercial products.
• Investigate material failures, identify root causes, and propose solutions to enhance material performance and durability.
• Contribute to patent applications and scientific publications, showcasing advancements in composite materials science.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Material characterization

Composite manufacturing

DSC

TGA

FTIR

SEM

Cross-functional teamwork

Written and verbal communication

Education

PhD in Materials Science

PhD in Polymer Science

PhD in Chemical Engineering

Tools

DSC

TGA

FTIR

SEM

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a creative and driven Senior Materials Scientist specializing in Polymer Composites to join their advanced research and development team in Port Elizabeth . This role is central to designing, developing, and characterizing novel composite materials with enhanced properties for various industrial applications. You will lead research projects, collaborate with engineering teams, and contribute to intellectual property generation. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of polymer science, composite processing, and material characterization techniques, working within a facility dedicated to material innovation in Port Elizabeth .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead research and development initiatives for new polymer composite materials and formulations.
• Design and conduct experiments to characterize material properties, including mechanical, thermal, and chemical resistance.
• Develop and optimize processing techniques for composite materials, such as molding, extrusion, and additive manufacturing.
• Collaborate with product development and engineering teams to translate material innovations into commercial products.
• Investigate material failures, identify root causes, and propose solutions to enhance material performance and durability.
• Contribute to patent applications and scientific publications, showcasing advancements in composite materials science.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Materials Science , Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of industrial experience in the development and characterization of polymer composites .
• Extensive knowledge of polymer chemistry, composite manufacturing processes, and material testing methodologies.
• Proficiency with material characterization techniques such as DSC, TGA, FTIR, SEM, and mechanical testing.
• Proven ability to manage research projects independently and work effectively in a cross-functional team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, performance incentives, and comprehensive benefits.
• Opportunity to pioneer new materials in a leading R&D environment in Port Elizabeth .
• Access to advanced laboratory equipment and pilot-scale processing facilities.
• Support for continuous learning and professional growth, including conferences.
• A collaborative culture that values innovation, scientific rigor, and teamwork.