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2.1% Chance of Automation

“Test Engineer” will not be replaced by robots.

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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 “Test Engineer”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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