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”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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