Materials Engineer
What the work is
Investigates the properties of metals, ceramics, polymers and other materials to assess and develop their engineering and commercial applications, such as in the design of composite materials, corrosion resistance and protection, and welding and fabrication.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Researches and analyses the properties of various materials to produce new composite materials
- Tests materials under different conditions to examine their properties and behaviour to determine their use in various applications or in the development of new technologies
- Analyses the results of laboratory testing on faulty materials to determine the causes of material defects and develop solutions
- Studies the performance of materials to evaluate their deterioration rate under different conditions and identify main factors contributing to degradation
- Produces cost estimates and analyses the feasibility of using different materials in engineering projects
- Conducts analysis on welds to identify welding issues, associated risks, and provide or develop solutions and appropriate mitigation methods
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a plant that makes cleaning and industrial products, plus a lab that tests materials. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A process you adjusted runs smoothly and the plant quietly uses less energy
- You find out why a part keeps failing, and the fix is finally clear
- An operator says your change made their shift easier
Hard days
- A production run is off specification and everyone wants an answer before you have one
- Test results come back confusing and contradict what you were expecting
- A safety review that slows a project everyone else is excited about
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 243133, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.