Senior Polymer Chemist — Innovation Leader

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

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