Senior Materials Scientist & R&D Lead

Placements24; Richards Bay; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Performance bonuses

Professional development

International collaborations

State-of-the-art facilities

Job summary

Placements24, on behalf of a pioneering materials company, is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to join their Richards Bay team in KwaZulu-Natal. The role centers on discovering and characterizing novel materials for energy, manufacturing, and sustainable tech, leading projects and mentoring scientists.

The ideal candidate has a Ph.D. in materials-related field, 6+ years post-doctoral experience, extensive synthesis and characterization expertise (SEM, TEM, XRD, spectroscopy), and a strong

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, or related field.
• 6+ years of post-doctoral experience in materials science with strong publication record.
• Expertise in synthesis and characterization of advanced materials (polymers, ceramics, composites, nanomaterials).
• Proficiency with a range of material characterization techniques and instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of structure-property relationships in materials.
• Proven ability to lead research projects in a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent written and oral communication for scientific reporting and presentations.
• Experience with computational materials modeling is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge research in materials science, focusing on synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation of novel materials.
• Lead independent research projects from conception through to completion, including experimental design, execution, and data analysis.
• Develop and implement advanced characterization techniques (e.g., SEM, TEM, XRD, spectroscopy) to understand material properties at various scales.
• Collaborate with engineers and product development teams to translate research findings into practical applications.
• Mentor and guide junior researchers and technicians, fostering a strong scientific culture within the team.
• Author high-quality scientific publications and present findings at leading international conferences.
• Contribute to the development of intellectual property and patent applications.
• Stay abreast of the latest scientific literature and technological advancements in materials science and related fields.
• Ensure laboratory safety protocols are strictly adhered to and maintain detailed research records.

Skills

Publication record

Project leadership

Communication skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, or related field

Tools

SEM

TEM

XRD

Spectroscopy

Job description

Placements24, on behalf of a pioneering materials company, is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to join their Richards Bay team in KwaZulu-Natal. The role centers on discovering and characterizing novel materials for energy, manufacturing, and sustainable tech, leading projects and mentoring scientists.

The ideal candidate has a Ph.D. in materials-related field, 6+ years post-doctoral experience, extensive synthesis and characterization expertise (SEM, TEM, XRD, spectroscopy), and a strong