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 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.
Interests
- Realistic
- Investigative
- Conventional
Work Values
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Independence
Work Styles
- Integrity
- Analytical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Persistence
Tasks
- Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
- Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
- Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
- Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
Work Activities
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Getting Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Detailed Work Activities
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Technology Skills
- Analytical or scientific software
- Presentation software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Development environment software
Abilities
- Category Flexibility
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
Skills
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Senior Corrosion TechnologistCertifying Organization
The Association for Materials Protection and Performance
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Internal Corrosion TechnologistCertifying Organization
The Association for Materials Protection and Performance
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Six Sigma BlackbeltCertifying Organization
American Society for Quality
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Senior Internal Corrosion TechnologistCertifying Organization
The Association for Materials Protection and Performance
Type
Advanced
Certifying Organization
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
Type
Advanced
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $71,005 |
| Median (50%) | $104,655 |
| High (90%) | $137,673 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $87,413 |
| Mid Level | $107,023 |
| Senior Level | $112,418 |
| Expert Level | $144,122 |
Employability
There are currently 25,000 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 26,900 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 7%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 7%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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