Materials Engineers
Also known as: Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer, Ceramic Design Engineer, Ceramic Engineer (+35 more)
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.
Take the free 15-minute assessment to compare this role with your profile, your current fit, and nearby alternatives
What You'll Do
- Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- Monitor material performance, and evaluate its 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.
Essential Skills
Career Fit Overview
Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.
Top passions
- Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
- Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
- Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
Common styles
Attention to Detail, Innovation, Dependability, Intellectual Curiosity, Cautiousness
Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.
Key Abilities
This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:
Technologies & Tools
Work Environment & Strengths
Common Strengths for This Career
- Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.8/5)
- Innovation (High importance: 4.65/5)
- Dependability (High importance: 4.61/5)
- Intellectual Curiosity (High importance: 4.61/5)
- Cautiousness (High importance: 4.52/5)
Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?
Take Free 15-Min Assessment →How to Become One
Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.
Similar Careers to Explore
Photonics Engineers
99.9% similar profile
Automotive Engineers
99.8% similar profile
Agricultural Engineers
99.7% similar profile
Nanosystems Engineers
99.7% similar profile
Materials Scientists
99.7% similar profile
Aerospace Engineers
99.6% similar profile
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
99.6% similar profile
Mechatronics Engineers
99.6% similar profile
Also Known As
This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:
Career Fit FAQs
Is this career a good fit for me
This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.
Can this help if I want to stay in my field
Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.
What should I compare first
Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.
Ready to Compare This Career to Your Profile?
Use the assessment to compare your current role, inspect nearby options, and see whether this career is a stronger fit for how you work.
Take Free Assessment (15 min) →