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2.1% Chance of Automation

“Materials Branch Chief” 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 “Materials Branch Chief”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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