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2.1% Chance of Automation

“Refining 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 “Refining Engineer”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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