Materials Engineers

What Does a Materials Engineers Do?

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.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
• 2Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
• 3Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
• 4Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
• 5Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
• 6Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
• 7Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
• 8Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.

Required Skills

• Active Listening
• Science
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Speaking
• Writing
• Mathematics
• ANSYS Multiphysics
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• C++
• Dassault Systemes CATIA
• Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
• Digital image correlation DIC software
• Fault detection isolation and recovery FDIR software
• Finite element analysis software
• Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
• Fused deposition modeling FDM rapid prototyping systems

Materials Engineers Salary