How to hire a forensic materials engineer

How to hire a forensic materials engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step forensic materials engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a forensic materials engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new forensic materials engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a forensic materials engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A forensic materials engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, forensic materials engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents forensic materials engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Forensic Materials Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Forensic Materials Engineer	Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and biomedical devices. They study the properties and structures of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, nanomaterials (extremely small substances), and other substances to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements.	$30-59
   Metallurgist	A metallurgist is responsible for producing metal items and resources to create components used for large manufacturing and industrial production. Metallurgists operate various machine tools and equipment, requiring them to have a strict adherence to the workplace's safety protocols and regulations to prevent potential hazards and operational delays... Show more	$29-55
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Litigation
   • Failure Analysis
   • Encase
   • Technical Reports
   • Autocad
   • Commercial Property
   • Security Incidents
   • IDS
   • Destructive Testing
   • Structural Damage
   • Certifications

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and successfully complete carbon/epoxy material qualification and gain approval from FAA to use in manufacturing of composite aircraft parts.
   • Used AutoCAD and other software to create simple vehicle models to reconstruct possible accident scenarios.
   • Provide definitive conclusion on cause and origin and prepare reports on findings for insurance claims and litigation.
   • Invent thin film optical radiation transducers for IR scene projection devices using novel tune cavity absorber/emitter coating designs.
   • Serve as resource in planning and coordination of design and development, verification, and product support activities for wireless devices.
   • Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when need.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your forensic materials engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A forensic materials engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, forensic materials engineers' average salary in nebraska is 40% less than in new hampshire.
   • Seniority. Entry-level forensic materials engineers 48% less than senior-level forensic materials engineers.
   • Certifications. A forensic materials engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a forensic materials engineer's salary.

   Average forensic materials engineer salary

   $89,518yearly

   $43.04 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level forensic materials engineer salary

   $64,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a forensic materials engineer job description

   A forensic materials engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a forensic materials engineer job description:

   Forensic materials engineer job description example

   TransUnion's Job Applicant Privacy Notice
   
   What We'll Bring:
   At TransUnion, we have a welcoming and energetic environment that encourages collaboration and innovation we're - consistently exploring new technologies and tools to be agile. This environment gives our people the opportunity to hone current skills and build new capabilities, while discovering their genius.
   
   Come be a part of our team - you'll work with great people, pioneering products and cutting-edge technology.
   
   What You'll Bring:
   1-3+ years in incident response/forensics or information security testing experience Experience with O365 Business Email Compromise (BEC) application risk and analysis experience Experience with imaging or data collection Proven communication abilities; strong writing skills with attention to risk mitigation Continued interested in learning the latest information regarding threats and how to protect a client against those threats
   
   We'd Love to See:
   Bachelor's degree in technology related field or equivalent experience CompTIA+, CISSP, Microsoft 365 Certified or equivalent certifications Hands on experience with API's and JavaScript
   
   Impact You'll Make:
   Business Email Compromise
   Perform and generate reports for BEC engagements, participating in a variety of incident response cases and providing valuable input to team members, clients, and internal stakeholders.Own data ingestion and allocation for cyber incident events and share technical expertise throughout and across Global Incident Response offerings.
   Lab Services
   Process media including physical media provided by clients Manage data flow and transfers for cases and conduct BEC analysis in support of operations Engage with client teams to review documentation providing constructive, meaningful feedback Qualify and communicate findings regarding vulnerabilities and be able to recommend multiple alternatives to mitigate individual risks
   Client Relations
   Prepare and deliver client reports throughout engagements as needed to communicate status, outcomes and recommendations Participate in facilitated sessions with client personnel and provide guidance to their technical personnel
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.
   
   TransUnion's Internal Job Title:
   Assoc Engineer, Infosec Governance

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find forensic materials engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any forensic materials engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level forensic materials engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your forensic materials engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit forensic materials engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit forensic materials engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new forensic materials engineer

   Once you've found the forensic materials engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new forensic materials engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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