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2.1% Chance of Automation

“Refining 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 “Refining Engineer”

Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports.
Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
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.
Conduct training sessions on new material products, applications, or manufacturing methods for customers and their employees.
Solve problems in a number of engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear, and aerospace.
Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
Teach in colleges and universities.
Design processing plants and equipment.
Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
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.
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.
Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives as necessary.
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.
Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.

Related Technology & Tools

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

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Microsoft Word
QMC CM4D
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Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
Fault detection isolation and recovery FDIR software
National Instruments LabVIEW
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Autodesk AutoCAD
MTS Testworks
Microsoft PowerPoint
Stereolithography SLA rapid prototyping systems
Fused deposition modeling FDM rapid prototyping systems
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C++
IBM Notes
Microsoft Excel
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