Senior Polymer Chemist

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and bonuses

Medical aid and retirement benefits

Professional development opportunities

Access to state-of-the-art labs inSand

Collaborative and innovative research

Job summary

Placements24 in Sandton is seeking a Senior Polymer Chemist to lead R&D initiatives, design polymerization experiments, and characterize materials for advanced applications. The role emphasizes translating lab findings into commercially viable materials and mentoring junior team members in a hybrid work framework.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in polymer chemistry or related fields, with 7+ years of industry experience in polymer synthesis and characterization, and a strong track record in

Qualifications

• PhD required in Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Materials Science, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of industry experience in polymer synthesis and characterization.
• Strong expertise in polymerization techniques (free radical, controlled radical, condensation, ring-opening).
• Proficiency with polymer characterization instrumentation and data analysis.
• Experience in coatings, adhesives, composites, or biodegradable polymers is advantageous.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute novel polymerization reactions to synthesize polymers with specific molecular weights, architectures, and functionalities.
• Characterize synthesized polymers using GPC/SEC, NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and rheology.
• Investigate structure-property relationships to tailor polymer performance for target applications.
• Collaborate with engineers and product development teams to translate laboratory findings into commercially viable materials.
• Troubleshoot synthesis and characterization challenges, optimize experimental conditions, and ensure data reproducibility.
• Maintain detailed laboratory records and contribute to scientific publications and patent applications.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Polymer characterization

Project management

Mentoring

Communication skills

Education

PhD in Polymer Chemistry

Tools

GPC/SEC

NMR

FTIR

DSC

TGA

Rheology

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Polymer Chemist to join their dedicated research and development team in Sandton . This role is integral to the innovation and development of advanced polymer materials with tailored properties for diverse applications. You will lead research initiatives, design and execute polymerization experiments, characterize resulting materials, and contribute to scaling up successful processes. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of polymer synthesis, characterization techniques, and structure-property relationships, with a passion for material innovation and a proven ability to manage projects and mentor junior team members within a hybrid work framework.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute novel polymerization reactions to synthesize polymers with specific molecular weights, architectures, and functionalities.
• Characterize synthesized polymers using techniques such as GPC/SEC, NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and rheology.
• Investigate structure-property relationships to tailor polymer performance for target applications.
• Collaborate with engineers and product development teams to translate laboratory findings into commercially viable materials.
• Troubleshoot synthesis and characterization challenges, optimize experimental conditions, and ensure data reproducibility.
• Maintain detailed laboratory records and contribute to scientific publications and patent applications.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of industry experience in polymer synthesis and characterization.
• Strong expertise in various polymerization techniques (e.g., free radical, controlled radical, condensation, ring-opening polymerization).
• Proficiency with polymer characterization instrumentation and data analysis.
• Experience in areas such as coatings, adhesives, composites, or biodegradable polymers is advantageous.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement benefits.
• Opportunities for professional development, including conference attendance and training.
• Access to state-of-the-art polymer synthesis and characterization laboratories in Sandton .
• A collaborative and innovative research environment focused on developing next-generation materials.