Will “Plastics Engineer” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

2.1% Chance of Automation

“Plastics 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.

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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 “Plastics Engineer”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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