Senior Polymer Chemist — Lead Next-Gen Polymers

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Professional development

Laboratory access

Retirement plan

Job summary

Placements24 in Soweto, Gauteng, is seeking a Senior Polymer Chemist to lead R&D in the design, synthesis and characterization of novel polymers for diverse industrial applications.

You will supervise projects, mentor junior chemists, and work with cross-functional teams to take materials from concept to market in a state-of-the-art facility. The role emphasizes collaboration, safety, and innovation.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry or closely related field.
• Minimum 5 years of post-doctoral or industrial polymer synthesis/characterization experience.
• Expertise in polymerization methods and structure-property analysis.
• Proficiency with polymer characterization techniques and instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel polymers via multiple polymerization techniques.
• Characterize polymers using GPC, NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and microscopy.
• Explore structure-property relationships to guide design and performance.
• Develop and improve polymer formulations and manufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to translate research into applications.
• Conduct literature reviews on polymer chemistry and related fields.
• Prepare technical reports, summaries, and patent disclosures.
• Mentor junior chemists and technicians; ensure safety practices.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Critical thinking

Communication skills

Education

Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry

Tools

GPC

NMR

FTIR

DSC

TGA

Microscopy

Job description

Placements24 in Soweto, Gauteng, is seeking a Senior Polymer Chemist to lead R&D in the design, synthesis and characterization of novel polymers for diverse industrial applications.

You will supervise projects, mentor junior chemists, and work with cross-functional teams to take materials from concept to market in a state-of-the-art facility. The role emphasizes collaboration, safety, and innovation.