Materials Engineer

Materials engineers generally work in offices where they have access to computers and design equipment. Others work in factories or research and development laboratories. Materials engineers typically work full time and may work overtime hours when necessary.

Some of the things a materials engineer might do:

• Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and managers as necessary
• Prepare proposals and budgets, analyze labor costs, write reports, and perform other managerial tasks
• Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists
• Design and direct the testing of processing procedures
• Monitor how materials perform and evaluate how they deteriorate
• Determine causes of product failure and develop ways of overcoming such failure
• Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to the design objectives of processes or products
• Evaluate the impact of materials processing on the environment

Watch this video to learn about some of the things our materials engineer role models do in their careers:

• Analytical skills: Materials engineers often work on projects related to other fields of engineering. They must determine how materials will be used and how they must be structured to withstand different conditions.
• Math skills: Materials engineers use the principles of calculus and other advanced topics in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.
• Problem-solving skills: Materials engineers must understand the relationship between materials’ structures, their properties, how they are made, and how these factors affect the products they are used to make. They must also figure out why a product might have failed, design a solution, and then conduct tests to make sure that the product does not fail again. These skills involve being able to identify root causes when many factors could be at fault.
• Speaking skills: While working with technicians, technologists, and other engineers, materials engineers must state concepts and directions clearly. When speaking with managers, these engineers must also communicate engineering concepts to people who may not have an engineering background.
• Writing skills: Materials engineers must write plans and reports clearly so that people without a materials engineering background can understand the concepts.

Watch this video to learn more from our materials engineer role models:

The average pay for materials engineers in the United States was $100,140 in May 2022 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A materials engineer’s pay depends on factors such as level of experience, education and training, geographic location, and specific industry.

About 1,500 new job openings for materials engineers are projected each year, on average, over the next 10 years in the United States.

Overall employment of materials engineers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is about as fast as the average growth rate for all occupations.

About half of all materials engineers work in manufacturing industries, where they develop and create new materials and manufacturing processes. As demand continues to increase for materials use, demand for employment also will increase.

A greater focus on environmental sustainability also may create demand for materials engineers.

Materials engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering or in a related engineering field. Completing internships and cooperative engineering programs while in school can be helpful in getting a position as a materials engineer.

Students interested in studying materials engineering should take high school courses in math, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; in science, such as biology, chemistry, and physics; and in computer programming.
Many engineering programs are accredited by ABET. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have graduated from an accredited program. A degree from an ABET-accredited program is usually necessary to become a licensed professional engineer.

Discover some of the courses you will take pursuing a degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

Watch this video to learn more from our materials engineer role models: