National
| Median wages (2008) |
$39.34 hourly, $81,820 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
22,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Slower than average (3% to 6%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
6,000 additional employees |
17-2131.00 - 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 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.
Sample of reported job titles:
Materials Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Materials Research Engineer, Metallurgist, Process Engineer, Research Engineer, Test Engineer, Materials and Processes Manager, Materials Branch Chief, Materials Development Engineer
Tasks
- Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- Monitor material performance and evaluate material deterioration.
- Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.
- Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
- 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.
- 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.
- Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives as necessary.
- Review new product plans and make recommendations for material selection based on design objectives, such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Calorimeters — Adiabatic bomb calorimeters; Differential scanning calorimeters; Thermogravimetric analyzers |
| Laboratory blenders or emulsifiers — Hot blenders; Laboratory blenders; Slurry blenders |
| Laboratory separators — Electrostatic separators; High tension separators; Isodynamic separators; Magnetic separators |
| Power saws — Band saws; Masonry cutters; Water-cooled saws |
| Twin screw extruder — Balling drums; Twin screw extruders; Twin-screw extruders |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Analytical or scientific software — ANSYS Multiphysics; Digital image correlation DIC software; Fault detection isolation and recovery FDIR software; Image analysis systems |
| Computer aided design CAD software — Autodesk AutoCAD software; PTC Pro/ENGINEER software |
| Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software; MTS Testworks; QMC CM4D |
| Development environment software — Formula translation/translator FORTRAN; Microsoft Visual Basic; National Instruments LabVIEW |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
