What Do Materials Engineers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Materials Engineers

Materials Engineers 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.

Salary
$100550
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth
Low

Personality
Interest Match



Job Description

Job Description

Materials Engineers 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. They also review new product plans and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.

Other tasks include:

  • Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.
  • Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
  • Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
  • Plan and implement laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards.
  • Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
  • Monitor material performance and evaluate material deterioration.

We asked Materials Engineers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

65%

How meaningful is this job

50%


65% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 50% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Materials Engineers supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists. They guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.

A typical day for a Materials Engineer will also include:

  • Teach in colleges and universities.
  • Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
  • Monitor material performance and evaluate material deterioration.
  • Supervise production and testing processes in industrial settings, such as metal refining facilities, smelting or foundry operations, or nonmetallic materials production operations.
  • Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports.

We asked some Materials Engineers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 69% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 36% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 62% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 10% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 3% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 13% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Materials Engineers also review new product plans and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost. They may also conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Materials Engineers Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials. They might also Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.

In addition, they Supervise production and testing processes in industrial settings, such as metal refining facilities, smelting or foundry operations, or nonmetallic materials production operations.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.

To some Materials Engineers, it is also their responsibility to Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports.


Working life

Working hours

More than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Materials Engineer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Do Materials Engineers work in an office-style work environment?

Every day
79%


Once a week
10%


Do Materials Engineers work outdoors?

Never
49%


Once a year
31%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Thinkers and The Builders

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Materials Engineers

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Related to Materials Engineers Job Description

Materials Engineers job description, what do Materials Engineers do, typical day for Materials Engineers, what is it like to work as a Materials Engineer, how many hours do Materials Engineers work, day to day work of a Materials Engineer

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/architecture-and-engineering/materials-engineers.htm
http://www.abet.org/
http://www.asminternational.org/
http://www.tms.org/


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