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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 “Research Engineer”

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.
Design processing plants and equipment.
Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
Conduct training sessions on new material products, applications, or manufacturing methods for customers and their employees.
Guide technical staff engaged in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
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.
Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
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 and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
Replicate the characteristics of materials and their components with computers.
Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives as necessary.
Teach in colleges and universities.
Supervise production and testing processes in industrial settings, such as metal refining facilities, smelting or foundry operations, or nonmetallic materials production operations.
Monitor material performance and evaluate material deterioration.
Write for technical magazines, journals, and trade association publications.

Related Technology & Tools

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

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