Senior Materials Scientist - Polymers

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,650,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

State-of-the-art facilities

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist with expertise in Polymer Science to lead design, synthesis, and characterization of novel polymeric materials for diverse applications. You will work from concept to prototype, using SEM, TEM, AFM, DSC, TGA, and NMR, and collaborate with engineering and product teams in a hybrid work setting.

The role emphasizes processing optimization, IP development, and publication/patent contributions, with a strong focus on delivering scalable materials

Qualifications

• PhD in a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of polymer R&D industry experience.
• Strong polymer chemistry, physics and engineering knowledge.
• Proficiency with polymer characterization techniques and instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize, and characterize novel polymer materials with targeted properties.
• Utilize advanced characterization techniques to analyze material structure and performance.
• Develop and optimize processing methods (e.g., extrusion, molding, additive manufacturing).
• Collaborate with product development to translate innovations into commercial products.
• Conduct failure analysis and provide technical solutions.

Skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science/Polymer Science/Chemical Engineering

Tools

SEM

TEM

AFM

DSC

TGA

NMR

Computational modeling

Job description

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Materials Scientist with expertise in Polymer Science to contribute to their innovative research and development efforts in Richards Bay . This role focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of novel polymeric materials for diverse industrial applications. You will be responsible for driving projects from conception through to prototype development, collaborating closely with engineering and product teams. This is an exciting opportunity to make significant contributions to materials innovation in a hybrid work setting, utilizing advanced characterization techniques and contributing to intellectual property development.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize, and characterize novel polymer materials with specific mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties.
• Utilize advanced characterization techniques such as SEM, TEM, AFM, DSC, TGA, and NMR to analyze material structure and performance.
• Develop and optimize processing methods for polymeric materials, including extrusion, molding, and additive manufacturing.
• Collaborate with product development teams to translate material innovations into viable commercial products.
• Conduct failure analysis and provide technical solutions for material-related issues in existing products.
• Author technical reports, patents, and peer-reviewed publications to disseminate research findings.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of industry experience in polymer research and development.
• Strong theoretical and practical understanding of polymer chemistry, physics, and engineering.
• Proficiency with various polymer characterization techniques and analytical instrumentation.
• Experience with computational modeling and simulation of polymer behavior is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and effective communication skills for cross-functional teamwork.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance incentive program.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Access to state-of-the‑art research facilities and advanced equipment.
• Opportunities for continued learning and professional development through workshops and conferences.
• A collaborative environment focused on pushing the boundaries of materials science.