Career Overview
Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications. Develop new uses for known materials. Includes those engineers working with composite materials or specializing in one type of material, such as graphite, metal and metal alloys, ceramics and glass, plastics and polymers, and naturally occurring materials. Includes metallurgists and metallurgical engineers, ceramic engineers, and welding engineers.
Also Known As
- Materials Engineer
- Materials Research Engineer
- Metallurgical Engineer
- Metallurgist
Alternate Job Titles
- Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer
- Ceramic Design Engineer
- Ceramic Engineer
- Ceramic Research Engineer
- Ceramics Test Engineer
- Corrosion Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Engineer
- Extractive Metallurgist
- Extrusion Engineer
- Failure Analysis Engineer
- Forensic Materials Engineer
- Foundry Metallurgist
- Foundry Process Engineer
- Glass Science Engineer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
- Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
- Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
- Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
- Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
- Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Engineering and Technology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Design
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Science
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
- Mathematics
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Category Flexibility
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Information Ordering
- Mathematical Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Achievement
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- C++
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
Tools & Equipment
- Abrasion testers
- Accelerated weathering machines
- Accelerometers
- Acoustic impediography equipment
- Adhesion testers
- Adiabatic bomb calorimeters
- Ammeters
- Analytical balances
- Atomic absorption AA spectrophotometers
- Atomic force microscopes
- Attritors
- Ball mills
- Balling drums
- Band saws
- Benchtop centrifuges
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $68,040 |
| Median | $108,310 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $172,000 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 22,770
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Materials Scientists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $104,160
Chemical Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $121,860
Manufacturing Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $101,140
Industrial Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $101,140
Mechanical Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $102,320
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.