Will “Research Engineer” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

2.1% Chance of Automation

“Research Engineer” will not be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #88 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

Care to share? Click for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or XING. 👍

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”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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