Materials Engineers

Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a range of products. They study the properties and structures of metals, polymers, and other substances to develop new materials. They also help select materials for specific products and identify ways to use existing materials.

Duties

Materials engineers typically do the following:

• Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and managers as necessary
• Prepare proposals and budgets, analyze labor costs, and write reports
• Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists
• Design and implement procedures to develop, process, test, and deploy materials
• Monitor the performance and degradation of materials over time
• Determine causes of material failure and develop ways of overcoming such failure
• Evaluate technical and quality control specifications of materials
• Assess economic, environmental, and sustainability factors related to producing, using, and disposing of materials

Materials engineers create and study materials at the atomic level. They use computer software to understand and predict the properties of materials and their components. To determine the material best suited for a product or process, materials engineers consider a variety of factors such as the weight of materials, cost, and how a material may interact with other materials. They solve materials-related challenges in collaboration with workers in other fields, including aerospace, chemical, and electrical engineering.

Materials engineers may specialize in specific materials. The following are examples of types of materials engineers:

Ceramic engineers develop ceramic materials and the processes for making them into useful products, from high-temperature rocket nozzles to glass for LCD flat-panel displays.

Composites engineers develop materials with special, engineered properties for applications in aircraft, automobiles, and related products.

Metallurgical engineers specialize in metals, such as steel and aluminum, usually in alloyed form with additions of other elements to provide specific properties.

Polymers engineers specialize in naturally occurring polymers, such as cellulose and collagen, and synthetic polymers (plastics) for a variety of applications.

Semiconductor engineers focus on materials with special electronic and optical properties, which are used for computing, sensing, and optical applications.

Materials engineers held about 23,000 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of materials engineers were as follows:

Materials engineers work in offices, factories, and research and development laboratories. They may work on teams with other scientists and engineers.

Work Schedules

Most materials engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

Materials engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering or a related field. Employers also value practical experience, which students sometimes gain through internships.

The median annual wage for materials engineers was $108,310 in May 2024.

Employment of materials engineers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 1,500 openings for materials engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.