Senior Polymers Researcher - Innovative Materials Scientist

Placements24; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Comprehensive medical aid and retirem.

Opportunities for professional dev.

State-of-the-art lab facilities

Relocation assistance available

Generous annual leave and sick leave

Job summary

Placements24 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, seeks a Senior Materials Science Researcher specializing in polymers to lead advanced R&D projects. You will design experiments, analyze material performance, and collaborate with engineering teams to translate findings into practical polymer solutions.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Science, or Chemistry with 5+ years of hands-on polymer research, and proficiency with FTIR, NMR, DSC, TGA, SEM/TEM, plus extrusion,

Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on polymer research experience.
• Expertise in polymer synthesis, characterization, and structure-property relations.
• Experience with material characterization instruments and techniques.
• Experience with polymer processing equipment is desirable.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects on synthesis, modification, and characterization of advanced polymer materials.
• Design and execute experiments to investigate mechanical, thermal, electrical, and barrier properties.
• Utilize spectroscopy, thermal analysis, microscopy, and mechanical testing techniques.
• Develop and optimize polymer processing methods (extrusion, injection molding, 3D printing).
• Analyze data, prepare technical reports and presentations.
• Collaborate with product teams to identify material needs and propose solutions.
• Mentor junior researchers and uphold lab safety and equipment care.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Polymer physics

Experimental research

Data analysis

Report writing

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Materials Science / Polymer Science / Chemistry

Tools

FTIR

NMR

DSC

TGA

SEM

TEM

Polymer processing equipment

Job description

Placements24 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, seeks a Senior Materials Science Researcher specializing in polymers to lead advanced R&D projects. You will design experiments, analyze material performance, and collaborate with engineering teams to translate findings into practical polymer solutions.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Science, or Chemistry with 5+ years of hands-on polymer research, and proficiency with FTIR, NMR, DSC, TGA, SEM/TEM, plus extrusion,