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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”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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