CTE Career Catalog - Materials Engineer

Materials Engineer

Job Desription

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 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.

Salary average: $100,140

Occupational Outlook

Expected growth of 5% from 2022 to 2032

Links to Learn More About This Career:

Educational Requirements:

Preferably a bachelor’s in material science, however a chemistry major takes a lot of the same classes

University of Kentucky

Address: Lexington

Website: https://www.uky.edu/

Information on the Major: https://www.uky.edu/academics/masters-doctoral/pigman-college-engineering/mechanical-engineering-graduate

Murray state university

Address: Murray, KY

Website: https://www.murraystate.edu/index.aspx

Information on the Major: https://www.murraystate.edu/programs/cset/che-polymer.aspx

Northern Kentucky University

Address: Cincinnati, KY

Website: https://www.nku.edu/

Information on the Major: https://www.nku.edu/content/www/academics/artsci/programs/undergraduate/chemistry.html

Soft Skills, Characteristics, and/or Abilities Need For This Career:

Ability to write technical reports
Ability to work in a team environment
Curiosity and interest in the sciences

Software Knowledge Needed For This Career:

There are computer programs that simulate the properties of a material, which you’ll need to know how to use. Each Material Engineering field uses specialized software.

Pros and Cons to Choosing This Career

Pros (Positives to this Career)

Good pay
Mostly stable work hours
You manipulate and study the atoms themselves

Cons (Negatives to this Career)

Desk job
Often don’t get to see your work being applied
Very intellectually demanding

Typical Working Conditions For This Career:

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.

Career Researched By: Hristo Georgiev