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Who is a Materials Engineer?
All sciences are connected; they lend each other material aid as parts of one great whole, each doing its own work, not for itself alone, but for the other parts; as the eye guides the body and the foot sustains it and leads it from place to place - Roge
In a career as materials engineers, individuals are professionals who are responsible for developing procedures to create a certain material that would be further used for a different product. A material engineer's job is to work within their field of expertise and choose a specific kind of metal or material to work on. Materials engineering jobs require focusing on various activities such as conducting experiments, testing materials and the data, troubleshooting, making sure the quality meets the benchmark, monitoring the performance of other products, and also creating documentation.
The primary role of this type of engineer is to develop a quality yet cost-effective material that can be used to create several products. Material Science and Technology Courses are one the specializations in engineering, that an individual should pursue if the person is interested in becoming a materials engineer. Here, we will discuss material engineering courses, material engineer job descriptions, material science jobs salary in India, is materials engineer a good career, and material science job opportunities in India.
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Materials Engineer in a Nutshell
A career as a materials engineer involves developing, processing, and testing materials that are used for creating a variety of products, such as computer chips, aircraft wings, golf clubs, or biomedical devices. A material engineer job description includes studying the structures and properties of metals, ceramics, composites, plastics, nanomaterials, and other chemical compounds in order to create a new material that meets a certain chemical, electrical, or mechanical benchmark.
Are you still wondering what is materials engineer, what material engineering salary and what materials engineering jobs then read the entire article to know the details. A material engineer job description also includes selecting materials for a particular product and developing new strategies to transform the existing materials.
Quick Facts for Materials Engineer
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Industry
Technology
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
A career as a materials engineer is not gender biased and can be pursued by both men and women. Anyone with interest in science, research, and products can choose a career as a materials engineer.
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Any special needs
Yes
Material engineering job is mostly research-based and can be carried out from a desk itself. However, there are instances where materials engineers might be required to travel for field research or a meeting with a board. If the disability doesn’t hinder one’s work schedule, then people with special needs can choose to have a career as a materials engineer.
Table of Contents for Materials Engineer
What is the role of Materials Engineer?
Individuals who opt for a career as a materials engineers are responsible for creating and studying materials at their atomic level. A career as a material engineer requires using computers to understand the materials, their properties, characteristics, and components involved. A materials engineer's job is to solve problems that might be related to a range of topics such as nuclear, mechanical, aerospace, electrical, chemical, or civil. In career as materials engineers, individuals create new composites or develop new uses for materials, such as making semiconductors for fibre-optic communication systems out of ceramic and metal. Individuals who are interested in the field of material engineering and creating necessary products for a variety of use might consider becoming a materials engineer.
Team management
A Materials Engineer job requires working closely with engineers, production executives, model makers, sales, and marketing teams. He or she discusses the design briefs with Materials Engineers. He or she understands the technology involved in the manufacturing of products, it's functioning, production methods, and materials such as metals, plastics, or textiles.
Designing
A career as a Materials Engineer requires being involved in designing several similar materials to develop ideas which can be used to create design and technology. The role of materials engineer is to design the structures of metals, ceramics, composites, plastics, nanomaterials, and other chemical compounds.
Identify potential engineering products
The material engineers job involves identifying effective components and opportunities related to achieving more cost and quality-efficient operations. A career as a material engineer requires them to analyse the materials usage data and advise the product engineers regarding environmental concerns and green practices.
Management
The material engineer's job is to manage the development, design, or construction of the material in order to make sure that budgets and timelines are met accurately. Materials engineers are also responsible for directing materials production or management activities.
Maintenance work
In a career as a materials engineer, they are required to conduct multi-stage materials examinations in order to evaluate material use, costs, and conservation measures. Materials engineer jobs also involve monitoring industrial material and chemical consumption or management. Materials engineer conducts field inspections, job site observations, or sub-metering to collect data for material development.
Inspection
The materials engineer's job is to inspect or monitor materials systems, including air conditioning, ventilating, heating, or daylighting systems to determine the material impact on the desired product. A material engineer also evaluates the design information such as system layouts and sketches, specifications, assembly drawings, and design calculations to ensure the quality.
Documentation
Material engineers job is to prepare project reports along with preparing technical or operational reports. A career as a material engineer also involves directing the staff’s research and work in the implementation of material management projects. A materials engineer analyzes, interprets, or creates a graphical representation of chemical data, using relevant software.
Types of a Materials Engineer
In this section, we have mentioned some of the types of Materials Engineer or Materials Engineer career options.
Polymer Engineer: A career as a polymer engineer involves designing and researching for polymers which includes all plastics and household materials such as water bottles, containers, and others. A polymer engineer develops materials that are used for manufacturing automobiles, and mechanical equipment.
Nano-tech Engineer: A nano-tech engineer is responsible for researching new things in order to bring advancements in the field of health, science, technology, and the environment on an atomic level.
Chemical Engineer: Chemical engineer is responsible for developing and designing chemical products and overseeing its manufacturing processes. A career as a chemical engineer involves applying the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math in order to create new chemicals such as fuel, drugs, food, and many other products.
What is the workplace/work environment of Materials Engineer like?
In a career as materials engineer, individuals usually work in a laboratory conducting research and development, or in a manufacturing office conducting quality control experiments on the material. Generally, the material engineer work environment is similar to most corporate jobs. The working conditions of material engineers vary from place to place and depend on various factors.
Does Materials Engineer require travelling?
Not Likely
Individuals who opt for a career as materials engineers are not required to travel unless they have to attend a meeting or conference. A career as a materials engineer is desk-based.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, Part Time
In career as materials engineer, individuals generally do not work in shifts since the work is research-based and is not time-oriented. Material engineers working on a part-time basis might be required to work under certain shifts.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
Individuals who opt for a material engineering career must provide both types of employment that are contractual and permanent. Contractual employment is offered for short-term projects whereas permanent employment requires regular services of a material engineers.
Work Place
Private Offices Factory, Laboratory
Individuals who opt for a career as material engineers work in manufacturing companies or research labs. Material engineers related to research and development are based in labs and the rest are required to work in the manufacturing field which might be a company or factory.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
Individuals who opt for a career as materials engineers find job opportunities in both urban and semi-urban areas. Some of the most common cities for material engineer job opportunities are Bengaluru, Jaipur, Mumbai, Chennai, Gurugrum, and Noida.
Time Pressure
Not Likely
Individuals who opt for a career as materials engineers generally do not face any time pressure. However, during deadlines approaching, materials engineers might be required to work under time pressure.
Overtime Details
In a career as material engineering jobs, individuals don’t work overtime but a normal 9-5 schedule. However, due to deadlines approaching or workload, they might choose to work overtime.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 45 Hours
In a career as materials engineer, individuals usually work from 9 AM to 5 PM, five days a week. He or she might be required to work on weekends in order to meet deadlines.
How to become a Materials Engineer?
Steps to become a Materials Engineer
If you are someone interested in metals, ceramics, plastics, and composites and are concerned and have knowledge about these things, then you must opt for a career as a Materials Engineer. If you are looking for how to become a Materials Engineer then you are required to follow specific steps. We have mentioned below the steps for how to become a Materials Engineer.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Materials Engineer?
When it comes to a materials engineer, there are several skills that can help individuals with a high material engineer salary in India. Some of the skills required by materials engineering jobs are mentioned below:
Leadership skills: Individuals who opt for a career as a materials engineer must possess good leadership skills since they will be required to lead the construction or research group, and everyone will look up to them for taking important decisions and otherwise also. In order to excel in a career as a materials engineer, one must be confident, honest, and delegate, and should possess a positive outlook towards every problem, which are the key components of being a good leader.
Effective communication skills: A material engineer job description includes working with more than one team on-site as well as off-site. As a materials engineer, it is important to deliver the right message across the team with no discrepancies involved.
Critical thinking: While manufacturing or research-related problems can arise without a moment’s notice, in order to remain out of the problem, it is important for a materials engineer to possess robust critical thinking skills. A material engineer must be able to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas, design, or production.
Decision-making skills: While conducting product research or design evaluation, there will be times when materials engineers will be required to make important decisions. Not delaying and taking the correct decision is important which involves being able to select between the alternatives so that the best outcome can be achieved in the shortest time.
Teamwork: In a career as a materials engineer, individuals not only work with their own team but also with other teams to ensure the research of workers, hence, it is important for a material engineer to be a good team player.
Popular Online Engineering Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Materials Engineer?
Internship Availability
Internships are one of the most efficient and diverse procedures in order to understand how to become a materials engineer and know the industry insights. There are various internship opportunities available in the field of materials engineering. Students with an interest in research or knowledge of computer modelling have more options available for internships. Generally, the internships are unpaid and students are required to bear all their expenses themself. The material engineering students must apply through the official website portals along with their CV and stating the purpose to attend the internships.
Career Path Progression for Materials Engineer
Junior Material Engineer: Junior material engineer job involves performing secondary-level tests on various materials and chemical compounds. Along with this, he or she also works on documentation of the current project. A junior materials engineer analyzes, interprets, or creates a graphical representation of chemical data, using relevant software.
Senior Material Engineer: Senior material engineer is responsible for supervising the work done by the team members along with performing first-hand research on different materials, their components, structure, and design. A senior material engineer job is to solve problems which might be related to a range of topics such as nuclear, mechanical, aerospace, electrical, chemical, or civil.
Materials Engineer Jobs and Salaries
Junior material engineer
- Starting Salary 22000
Job Description
Junior material engineer job involves performing secondary-level tests on various materials and chemical compounds. Along with this, he or she also works on documentation of the current project. A junior materials engineer analyzes, interprets, or creates a graphical representation of chemical data using relevant software.
Salary Description
At beginning of his or her career as a junior material engineer, one earns somewhere between Rs.18,000 to Rs. 22,000 per month. After some experience, a junior material engineer earns around Rs. 35,000 per month. The top level salary of a junior material engineer is around Rs. 50,000 per month which includes bonus and overtime pay.
Senior material engineer
- Starting Salary 50000
Job Description
The senior material engineer is responsible for supervising the work done by the team members along with performing first-hand research on different materials, their components, structure, and design. A senior material engineer job is to solve problems which might be related to a range of topics such as nuclear, mechanical, aerospace, electrical, chemical, or civil.
Salary Description
At beginning of his or her career as senior material engineer, one earns somewhere between Rs.50,000 to Rs. 55,000 per month. After some experience, a senior material engineer salary is around Rs. 65,000 per month. The top-level senior material engineer salary is around Rs. 80,000 per month which includes bonus and overtime pay.
What is the job outlook for Materials Engineer?
Overall employment and material science job opportunities in India are projected to grow by two per cent in the upcoming next ten years. About 50 per cent of the materials engineers work in manufacturing industries, which includes many such profiles which are expected to have slow growth or a decline in job opportunities. However, there are fair chances of material science job opportunities in India in professional, scientific, or technical fields.
Job prospects are best for candidates who come with some work experience or research background in internships and co-programmes within the universities respectively. Automation is growing in the manufacturing industry and companies are investing in automated testing machines that are more accurate in predicting material quality, performance, and cost-effectiveness. Hence, if materials engineers work on their ability of computer modelling more than chances or more bright than before.
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Frequently Asked Questions for Materials Engineer
Que. What are the other career options for material engineering graduates?
Ans.Graduates of materials engineering can opt for architecture, product designing, landscape design, product management, or other related careers.
Que. Which industry employs Materials Engineers?
Ans.Manufacturing is the largest employer of Materials Engineers. Almost 30 per cent of materials engineering jobs exist in manufacturing industries. Specialised designing, architectural, wholesale trade, and engineering services also require Materials Engineers.
Que. What does a material engineer do?
Ans.Individuals who opt for a career as a materials engineer create new composites or develop new uses for materials, such as making semiconductors for fibre-optic communication systems out of ceramic and metal.
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Did you know?
Fact 1
The industrial study of metal alloys is a large part of materials science.
Fact 2
Polymers are the raw materials used to make what are commonly known as plastics.
Fact 3
Materials science is linked to the development of plastics, semiconductors, ceramics, polymers, magnetic materials, medical implant materials and biological materials.
Fact 4
Aerogel is made up of supercritical dried liquid gels of alumina, chromia, tin oxide or carbon.
Fact 5
Metamaterials are the kind of materials that gain their properties from their structure rather than composition.
