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What is a materials research engineer and how to become one
The materials research engineer provides technical leadership in the development and manufacturing of materials essential to the company. He/She keeps himself updated on research on necessary materials and translates production and device requirements into process and materials requirements.
Also, he/she develops, plans, and executes technical programs in the needed areas to meet those requirements. As a materials research engineer, you will provide technical direction to resolve difficult problems, utilizing test results, analytical data, and statistical methods. Additionally, you will provide key process and equipment parameters for implementing newly developed processes.
This position requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in materials science, applied physics, engineering, or a related field. Applicants must have previous work experience in a related role. You must also possess communication, problem-solving, and project management skills. You must also have a good understanding of engineering fundamentals. The average salary of a Materials Research Engineer is $86,411. This varies between $56,000 and $134,000.
What general advice would you give to a materials research engineer?
Dr. James Rawlins
Professor, Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi
Avg. Salary $87,100
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.34%
Asian 19.61%
Black or African American 2.06%
Hispanic or Latino 8.05%
Unknown 3.49%
White 66.45%
Genderfemale 33.83%
male 66.17%
Age - 40American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 40Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Key steps to become a materials research engineer
Explore materials research engineer education requirements
Start to develop specific materials research engineer skills
Skills Percentages Materials Research 12.61% Research Projects 8.12% Characterization Techniques 7.02% Synthesis 6.98% Additive Manufacturing 6.76% Complete relevant materials research engineer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New materials research engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a materials research engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real materials research engineer resumes.Research materials research engineer duties and responsibilities
- Manage and successfully complete carbon/epoxy material qualification and gain approval from FAA to use in manufacturing of composite aircraft parts.
- Determine the shear strength of composite specimens according to ASTM D5379 standards.
- Perform materials characterization using Raman, UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy; SEM and TEM.
- Company representative to ASTM for standards and specifications development including the coordination of round-robin testing.
Prepare your materials research engineer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your materials research engineer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a materials research engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable materials research engineer resume templates
Build a professional materials research engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your materials research engineer resume.
Apply for materials research engineer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a materials research engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first materials research engineer job
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Average materials research engineer salary
The average materials research engineer salary in the United States is $87,100 per year or $42 per hour. Materials research engineer salaries range between $67,000 and $111,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do materials research engineers rate their job?
Updated January 8, 2025
