How to hire a metallurgical engineer

How to hire a metallurgical engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step metallurgical 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 metallurgical engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new metallurgical engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a metallurgical engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a metallurgical 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 metallurgical engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, metallurgical 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 metallurgical engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Metallurgical Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Metallurgical 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.	$30-51
   Process Engineer	A Process Engineer is responsible for coming up with innovative ways to process particular raw materials into different kinds of products. They can also modify various existing machines or maintain their quality by monitoring its functions and conducting tests and examinations... Show more	$29-51
   Product Engineer	A product engineer specializes in designing and developing commercial materials and services. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis of the latest trends and marketing conditions to come up with new ideas and products for the public... Show more	$32-56

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Aluminum
   • Failure Analysis
   • Corrective Action
   • Technical Support
   • Continuous Improvement
   • ISO
   • Material Selection
   • Aerospace
   • Product Quality
   • Process Control
   • Technical Reports
   • Manufacturing Support
   • Chemistry
   • Sigma

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead several independent, cross-functional projects and improve manufacturing quality, reduce cost, ensure environment are supported and FDA compliant.
   • Perform maintenance on robots and CNC machines that include programming and touch-ups.
   • Increase awareness, utilization, and cost reductions associate with FCAW for structural and pipeline applications.
   • Monitor welding activities, perform visual weld inspections, coordinate vendor NDE services, and initiate required welding documentation.
   • Modify existing visual inspection and introduce new NDE methods to ensure up-to-date inspection technology and techniques are used to improve production.
   • Review process and materials specifications for FAA 121 and FAA 145 certifications.

   More metallurgical engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, metallurgical engineers' average salary in nebraska is 39% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level metallurgical engineers 41% less than senior-level metallurgical engineers.
   • Certifications. A metallurgical 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 metallurgical engineer's salary.

   Average metallurgical engineer salary

   $82,916yearly

   $39.86 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level metallurgical engineer salary

   $63,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average metallurgical engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$95,921	$46
   2	Arizona	$90,003	$43
   3	Colorado	$89,969	$43
   4	Georgia	$89,153	$43
   5	Kentucky	$88,713	$43
   6	Alaska	$86,753	$42
   7	Nevada	$85,899	$41
   8	Texas	$85,883	$41
   9	Pennsylvania	$82,759	$40
   10	Illinois	$82,639	$40
   11	Michigan	$79,102	$38
   12	Rhode Island	$78,253	$38
   13	Tennessee	$77,681	$37
   14	Utah	$76,821	$37
   15	Iowa	$75,809	$36
   16	North Carolina	$75,533	$36
   17	Ohio	$73,979	$36
   18	Indiana	$73,105	$35
   19	Oklahoma	$71,724	$34
   20	Mississippi	$60,739	$29

   Average metallurgical engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Tesoro	$112,878	$54.27
   2	Baker Hughes	$98,087	$47.16	6
   3	Osram Sylvania	$96,735	$46.51	1
   4	QuantumScape	$93,524	$44.96	4
   5	TechnipFMC	$91,648	$44.06
   6	Albemarle	$89,370	$42.97	2
   7	Stanadyne	$88,453	$42.53	3
   8	McDermott International	$87,956	$42.29
   9	Nucor	$87,852	$42.24	8
   10	Minerals Technologies	$86,990	$41.82	2
   11	Caterpillar	$86,801	$41.73	18
   12	NOV	$86,786	$41.72	10
   13	UChicago Argonne	$86,701	$41.68
   14	ASARCO	$86,544	$41.61
   15	Kinross Gold	$85,388	$41.05	2
   16	Alcoa	$85,250	$40.99	2
   17	SMS group	$85,194	$40.96	1
   18	Newmont	$85,062	$40.90
   19	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$84,204	$40.48	15
   20	Element Materials Technology	$84,149	$40.46	4

4. Writing a metallurgical engineer job description

   A job description for a metallurgical engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a metallurgical engineer job description:

   Metallurgical engineer job description example

   At Beehive Industries, we believe there is a better way to meet our clients' needs. Through Additive Manufacturing, Beehive Industries helps clients achieve more than what has ever been thought possible. This role will be located at our West Chester, Ohio facility.
   
   This Metallurgical Engineer is a dynamic position whose function is to develop metal 3D printing processes to enable materials that are currently challenging to print to be printed successfully. Working closely with the Process Engineers, the Metallurgical Engineer will work as part of a team to develop the next generation of AM materials for aerospace and related applications. The Metallurgical Engineer will be an expert in process-microstructure-property relationships in AM of aerospace alloys, will set up and manage a materials characterization facility which can match the turn-speed of the AM machines, and will manage relationships with Universities and National Labs who are needed to support the organization. Come Join Us!
   The Metallurgist's responsibilities include the following:
   
   Serve as metallurgical subject matter expert for the company
   
   Use knowledge of materials science to develop new materials and processes for the AM industry
   
   Set up a metallurgical characterization facility, and work as part of a team to characterize material produced by L-PBF and EBM processes
   
   Lead external research and development programs contributing to improved materials for AM Manage metallurgical engineers and technicians, and be responsible for metallurgical lab equipment and performance
   
   Develop materials characterization methods to support the company's metallurgical needs
   
   Main Qualifications:
   Bachelor's degree in Metallurgy or Materials Engineering 2 Years of metallurgical experience in industry or research labs Hands on experience with metals characterization techniques, including optical microscopy, SEM, chemical analysis Experience in developing automated analysis techniques, and automating report generation Data analytics experience
   Preferred Qualifications:
   Masters degree in Metallurgy or Materials Engineering 5 Years of metallurgical experience in industry or research labs Project management experience AM L-PBF and EBM process experience Experience with Python or equivalent programming languages
   Interpersonal Skills:
   Roll up sleeve attitude Methodical and systematic approach Teamwork centric Strong Oral and Writing Communication skills Interest in Lab work and Lab environment Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with ambiguity
   If this sounds like you, please apply with your resume. This could be the opportunity you are looking for to expand your skills, contribute to a winning company, and work with talented people who love what they do and take pride in our company.
   
   Beehive Industries offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes group Medical, Dental, Life, and Short and Long-Term disability coverages. We also offer a generous 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a Company match.
   
   This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software, technology or information controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license. In order to ensure compliance, Beehive Industries must determine U.S. citizenship or U.S. visa/immigration status of all prospective applicants for this position. Any citizenship information provided will be reviewed solely for export control compliance purposes.
   
   Only applicants eligible to receive export-controlled items, software, technology, and information will be considered for this position. Citizenship information will be handled in accordance with Beehive Industries policies prohibiting discrimination based upon classifications protected by federal, state, or local law. Beehive Industries is committed to full compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We strive to create an inclusive work environment and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
   
   JOB CODE: 1000048

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right metallurgical engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit metallurgical 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 metallurgical engineer

   Once you've selected the best metallurgical engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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