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.
Table of Contents
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.
65%
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
More than 40 hours per week
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.
Is this right for me
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.
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