Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Advanced Materials

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work in SA

Professional development support

Collaborative global team

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer in South Africa to lead the design of mechanical systems using advanced materials. This fully remote role accepts contributions from anywhere within South Africa, with focus on aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors.

You will translate complex material properties into practical, high-impact engineering solutions and document specifications for cross-disciplinary teams in a distributed setting.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or closely related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in mechanical design and analysis with a focus on advanced materials.
• Experience with Abaqus and ANSYS FEA tools.
• Experience designing with composites, high-temperature alloys, ceramics, or other advanced materials.
• Strong understanding of failure mechanisms, material characterization, and manufacturing processes for advanced materials.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for remote collaboration.
• Proven ability to work independently in a remote setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization and detailed design of mechanical systems and components using advanced materials.
• Perform stress, fatigue, thermal, and vibration analysis with FEA software focusing on material behavior.
• Develop innovative designs leveraging composites, ceramics, and advanced alloys.
• Create 3D models, 2D drawings, and material specifications and processing guidelines.
• Collaborate with a remote team of scientists and engineers to integrate material innovations into products.
• Oversee fabrication and testing of prototypes under extreme conditions to meet performance specs.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide guidance on material selection and design considerations.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and proposals for stakeholders.

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering firm specializing in the research and development of advanced materials and their application in high-performance engineering systems, is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Mechanical Design Engineer . This is a fully remote position, offering you the flexibility to contribute your expertise from anywhere within South Africa. You will be at the forefront of designing and integrating novel materials into complex mechanical structures and components, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors. The role demands a deep understanding of material science, structural mechanics, and advanced design methodologies. We are looking for a visionary engineer who can translate complex material properties into practical, high-impact engineering solutions, working collaboratively with a distributed team of world-class scientists and engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization and detailed design of mechanical systems and components utilizing advanced and novel materials.
• Conduct advanced stress, fatigue, thermal, and vibration analysis using sophisticated FEA software, focusing on material behavior.
• Develop innovative design solutions that leverage the unique properties of advanced materials such as composites, ceramics, and advanced alloys.
• Create comprehensive 3D models, 2D drawings, and design documentation, including material specifications and processing guidelines.
• Collaborate closely with a remote team of material scientists, R&D specialists, and other engineering disciplines to integrate material innovations into product designs.
• Oversee the fabrication and testing of prototypes, ensuring designs meet performance specifications and reliability requirements under extreme conditions.
• Stay abreast of cutting-edge research in material science and mechanical design, identifying opportunities for technological advancement.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance on material selection and design considerations.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and proposals for internal and external stakeholders.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in mechanical design and analysis, with a proven specialization in advanced materials.
• Extensive experience with advanced FEA tools (e.g., Abaqus, ANSYS) and material modeling techniques.
• Demonstrated success in designing with composites, high-temperature alloys, ceramics, or other specialized materials.
• Strong understanding of failure mechanisms, material characterization, and manufacturing processes for advanced materials.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, effective for remote collaboration.
• Proven ability to work independently and drive projects forward in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunity to work on groundbreaking R&D projects at the forefront of material science and engineering.
• Fully remote work arrangement, providing ultimate flexibility.
• Professional development support, including access to conferences and specialized training.
• Collaborate with a team of leading experts in their respective fields.
• Contribute to innovations that have significant real-world impact, from your base in the Stellenbosch region or elsewhere.