Senior Scientist - Materials Science

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental, vision insurance

Retirement plan with employer/employee

Generous paid time off

Access to advanced lab facilities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Scientist specializing in Materials Science to join their R&D team in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. You will lead research projects focused on novel materials, analyzing structure-property relationships and guiding synthesis and processing.

The role demands independence, initiative, and strong publication credentials. You will collaborate with engineering and product teams, translate findings into scalable solutions, and contribute to technical reports and patents.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a related field with at least 5 years of research.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead advanced research on novel materials synthesis and processing.

Skills

Materials science

Experimental design

Team collaboration

Scientific communication

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

Ph.D. in Chemistry

Ph.D. in Physics

Tools

SEM

TEM

XRD

DSC

Mechanical testing

Computational modeling

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist with a specialization in Materials Science to join their innovative research and development team in Nelspruit. This role is pivotal in driving the development of novel materials and enhancing existing ones through rigorous scientific investigation and experimentation. You will be responsible for conceptualizing, designing, and executing research projects focused on material properties, synthesis, and characterization. Working within a state-of-the-art laboratory, you will collaborate with a team of experts to translate scientific findings into tangible technological advancements.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct advanced research into the synthesis, processing, and characterization of novel materials.
• Design and perform experiments to evaluate material properties, performance, and durability under various conditions.
• Utilize a range of analytical techniques (e.g., SEM, TEM, XRD, DSC, mechanical testing) for material analysis.
• Develop and optimize material formulations and processing methods for improved performance and scalability.
• Interpret complex experimental data and contribute to the writing of technical reports, patents, and publications.
• Collaborate with engineering and product development teams to integrate new materials into applications.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant research experience in materials science, with a strong publication record.
• Demonstrated expertise in material characterization techniques and understanding of structure-property relationships.
• Experience with computational modeling and simulation of materials is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and lead research initiatives.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective team collaboration.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan with employer contributions.
• Generous paid time off and opportunities for professional development.
• Access to advanced laboratory facilities and equipment.