Career Details :: Materials Engineers
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 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.
Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Education
A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Tasks
- Reviews new product plans and makes recommendations for material selection based on design objectives and cost.
- Confers with producers of material during investigation and evaluation of material for product applications.
- Reviews product failure data and interprets laboratory test results to determine material or process causes.
- Plans and implements laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures that maintain cost and performance standards.
- Evaluates technical and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
Related Careers
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Electrical Drafters
- Electrical Engineering Technicians
- Marine Architects
- Mechanical Engineers
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Processing Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Consequence of Error
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Objective or Subjective Information
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Materials |  [ add ] |
| Materials Science | [ add ] |
| Materials Science/Engineering | [ add ] |
| Materials Sciences | [ add ] |
| Materials Technology | [ add ] |
| Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.