Materials Engineers
Also called: Materials Engineer, Materials Research Engineer, Metallurgical Engineer, Metallurgist,
What they 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.On the job, you would:
- 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 material deterioration.
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What they 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.On the job, you would:
- 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 material deterioration.
KNOWLEDGE
Engineering and Technology
- product and service development
- design
Math and Science
- chemistry
- physics
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
- manufacture and distribution of products
Arts and Humanities
- English language
SKILLS
Basic Skills
- listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
- reading work related information
Problem Solving
- noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
- thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
- figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
ABILITIES
Verbal
- communicate by speaking
- listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
- group things in different ways
- make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
Math
- choose the right type of math to solve a problem
- add, subtract, multiply, or divide
Visual Understanding
- quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things
PERSONALITY
People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
- Integrity
- Analytical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Persistence
- Achievement/Effort
TECHNOLOGY
You might use software like this on the job:
Analytical or scientific software
- Minitab
- The MathWorks MATLAB
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Development environment software
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- National Instruments LabVIEW
EDUCATION
- bachelor's degree
- doctoral degree
JOB OUTLOOK
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
$93,360
$57,340
$148,960