Senior Polymer Scientist - Advanced Materials Innovator

Placements24; Richards Bay; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support to Richards Bay

Competitive salary

Performance bonus

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist to drive R&D in novel polymer synthesis at our Richards Bay facility. You will design, synthesize, and characterize advanced polymers for industrial applications, translating research into scalable processes.

You will lead polymerization development, utilize GPC/NMR/DSC/TGA/FTIR, and collaborate with engineering and product teams to ensure material suitability and performance. A PhD with 6+ years in polymer chemistry is required.

Qualifications

• PhD in a related field required (Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science or Chemical Engineering).
• 6+ years of polymer synthesis and characterization experience, preferably in industrial R&D.
• Expertise in multiple polymerization techniques (free radical, condensation, living).
• Proficient in polymer characterization methods and structure-property analysis.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and collaborative skills; publication record a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, synthesis, and characterization of novel polymers with tailored properties.
• Develop and optimize polymerization processes and reaction conditions.
• Use advanced techniques (GPC, NMR, DSC, TGA, FTIR) to characterize polymers.
• Explore structure-property relationships to guide material design.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams for application suitability.
• Scale-up formulations from lab to pilot plant; troubleshoot issues.
• Prepare technical reports, summaries, and patent disclosures.
• Stay current with advances in polymer science and technology.
• Contribute to the company’s IP portfolio.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Polymer characterization

Polymerization techniques

Structure-property relationships

Analytical problem solving

Team collaboration

Technical reporting

Education

PhD in Polymer Chemistry / Materials Science / Chemical Engineering

Tools

GPC

NMR

DSC

TGA

FTIR

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist to drive R&D in novel polymer synthesis at our Richards Bay facility. You will design, synthesize, and characterize advanced polymers for industrial applications, translating research into scalable processes.

You will lead polymerization development, utilize GPC/NMR/DSC/TGA/FTIR, and collaborate with engineering and product teams to ensure material suitability and performance. A PhD with 6+ years in polymer chemistry is required.