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Job Description

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.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 17-2131.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 97,050.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 46.00
Currently, there are 26,800 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Materials Engineers”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Research Engineer”

Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.
Teach in colleges and universities.
Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
Review new product plans and make recommendations for material selection based on design objectives, such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.
Replicate the characteristics of materials and their components with computers.
Supervise production and testing processes in industrial settings, such as metal refining facilities, smelting or foundry operations, or nonmetallic materials production operations.
Guide technical staff engaged in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
Solve problems in a number of engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear, and aerospace.
Conduct training sessions on new material products, applications, or manufacturing methods for customers and their employees.
Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports.
Write for technical magazines, journals, and trade association publications.
Design processing plants and equipment.
Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
Plan and implement laboratory operations for the purpose of developing material and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards.
Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives as necessary.
Monitor material performance and evaluate material deterioration.
Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.

Related Technology & Tools

Cement mixers
Computerized numerical control CNC lathes
Film thickness measurement systems
Differential scanning calorimeters
Gas chromatographs GC
Ball mills
Laboratory glove boxes
X ray fluorescence XRF analyzers
Polishing machines
Viscosity meters
Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectroscopes
Thermogravimetric analyzers
Flame photometers
Laboratory vacuum pumps
Graphite element furnaces
Optical emission spectrometers
Spectrocolorimeters
Water-cooled saws
Jaw crushers
Tensile testers
Solvent dryers
Electrostatic separators
Scanning electron microscopes SEM
Digitizing oscilloscopes
Filter presses
Ultrasonicators
Linear variable differential transformers LVDT
Plasma-arc furnaces
Safety glasses
Microwave autoclaves
Molecular pumps
Hardness testers
Extensometers
Steam autoclaves
Inert atmosphere box furnaces
Kneading compactors
Laboratory pulverizers
Pycnometers
Gas detectors
Drying ovens
Atomic absorption AA spectrophotometers
Lapping wheels
Laboratory test sieves
Etching equipment
Electronic toploading balances
Differential thermal analyzers
Laboratory blenders
Laminators
Muffle furnaces
Friction and wear testers
Melt spinners
Atomic force microscopes
Solar simulators
Gauss meters
Twin screw extruders
Fiberscopes
Attritors
Microscope photo attachments
pH testers
Jar mills
Vacuum furnaces
Accelerometers
Spectrometers
Heated walk-in environmental chambers
Mass spectrometers
Flotation columns
Calorimeters
Reflectometers
Ultrasonic baths
Sanding machines
Rod mills
Tube furnaces
Diffractometers
Safety gloves
Dataloggers
High-vacuum tensile testing chambers
Band saws
Infrared cameras
Oscillating water tunnels
Drop weight impact towers
Magnetic susceptibility balances
Computer numerical controlled CNC milling machines
High tension separators
Twin-screw extruders
Specific gravity balances
Vacuum evaporators
Analytical balances
Masonry cutters
Adhesion testers
Stereo microscopes
Microwave sintering furnaces
Microwave tube furnaces
Optical compound microscopes
Electron microprobe analyzers EMPA
Gel permeation chromatographs GPC
Ammeters
Laser Doppler velocimeters LDV
Liquid conditioners
Wind tunnels
Permeability measuring devices
Tension gauges
Micromanipulators
Turbidimeters
Coordinate measuring machines CMM
Accelerated weathering machines
Infrared monitors
Sample presses
Temperature regulated shaking water baths
Binocular compound microscopes
Acoustic impediography equipment
Particle size analyzers
Benchtop centrifuges
Magnetic separators
Impact testers
Colorimeters
Abrasion testers
Injection molding machines
Current versus voltage IV curve tracers
Solid state laser systems
Stabilometers
Personal computers
Hydraulic presses
Servohydraulic test machines
Ultraviolet UV exposure units
Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometers EDS
Gyratory crushers
X ray fluorescence XRF spectrometers
Sonometers
Roll crushers
Electrometers
Ultrasonic dismembrators
Water burets
Durometers
Mechanical sieve shakers
Deionizers
High temperature material testing systems
Load frames
Ultrasound inspection equipment
Counter-current mixers
Digital cameras
Hot blenders
Vibration analysis equipment
Balling drums
Laboratory sample splitters
Screw-driven test machines
Polarizing microscopes
Isodynamic separators
Charpy impact testers
Fume hoods
Spectrophotometers
Holding jigs
Laboratory microwave ovens
Compression testing machines
Concrete test hammers
Rotating furnaces
High pressure liquid chromatograph HPLC equipment
Freeze-thaw test units
Vacuum coating systems
Pit depth gauges
Adiabatic bomb calorimeters
Thermal analysis systems
Porosity indicators
Slurry blenders
Lathes
Strain gauges

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Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Outlook
Digital image correlation DIC software
Microsoft Visual Basic.NET
Microsoft PowerPoint
C++
National Instruments LabVIEW
Stereolithography SLA rapid prototyping systems
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Autodesk AutoCAD
Presentation software
IBM Notes
Microsoft Office
Computer aided design CAD software
Fault detection isolation and recovery FDIR software
QMC CM4D
ANSYS Multiphysics
MTS Testworks
Fused deposition modeling FDM rapid prototyping systems
Web browser software
Microsoft Visual Basic
PTC Creo Parametric
Microsoft SharePoint
Minitab
Microsoft Excel
Image analysis systems
Data entry software
Graphics software
Word processing software
Microsoft Visio