Employers
There are approximately 25,000 materials engineers employed in the United States. Upon graduation most materials engineers go to work in industry. Materials engineers fall into five main employment groups: manufacturing (where the products are made and tested); material applications and development; machinery/equipment (which requires advanced knowledge of mechanical engineering); government positions; and consulting (where you will need your Professional Engineer licensing). Others specialize in computer and electronic products, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, machinery manufacturing, and primary metal production. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 16 percent of materials engineers work for transportation equipment manufacturing companies; 14 percent work for computer and electronic product manufacturers; 11 percent work for engineering services; and 9 percent work for scientific research and development services. Some materials engineers may continue their studies and go on to teach in higher education. Most materials programs have advanced programs for master's and doctoral studies.
Starting Out
Students can learn about prospective employers and job openings from their school's career services office. Many materials engineers get their start in the field through internships that lead to full-time work. Other ways to find work include searching companies' Web sites for employment opportunities, as well as searching employment Web sites for job listings for materials engineers.
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineers
- Advanced Manufacturing Technicians
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Air Quality Engineers
- Apparel Industry Workers
- Appliance Service Technicians
- Architects
- Astrobiologists
- Astrogeologists
- Astronauts
- Astronomers
- Astrophysicists
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Automation Engineers
- Automobile Collision Repairers
- Automobile Sales Workers
- Automobile Service Technicians
- Automotive Dealership Owners
- Automotive Dealership Sales Managers
- Automotive Designers
- Automotive Engineering Technicians
- Automotive Engineers
- Automotive Industry Workers
- Automotive Technology Teachers
- Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Test Drivers
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Bindery Workers
- Biochemical Engineers
- Biochemists
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biologists
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Bricklayers and Stonemasons
- Broadcast Engineers
- Building Automation Systems Engineers
- Building Performance Diagnosticians
- Cement Masons
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Coal Miners
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Construction Laborers
- Construction Managers
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Coremakers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Cost Estimators
- Cryptographic Technicians
- Diesel Mechanics
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Divers and Diving Technicians
- Drafters
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Drone Engineers
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Drug Developers
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electricians
- Electromechanical Engineering Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Electronics Service Technicians
- Electroplating Workers
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Energy Brokers
- Energy Conservation Technicians
- Energy Consultants
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Energy Transmission and Distribution Workers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Fleet Maintenance Technicians
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Forensic Engineers
- Forge Shop Workers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Fuel Cell Technicians
- Furniture Designers
- Furniture Manufacturing Workers
- Futurists
- Genetic Engineers
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geographic Information Systems Specialists
- Geological Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Geothermal Production Managers
- Geothermal Technicians
- Glass Manufacturing Workers
- Glaziers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Gunsmiths
- Hardware Engineers
- Heat Treaters
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
- Hydroelectric Production Managers
- Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Designers
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Industrial Radiographers
- Industrial Safety and Health Technicians
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Intelligence Officers
- Internet of Things Developers
- Internet Security Specialists
- Job and Die Setters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Landmen
- Laser Technicians
- Layout Workers
- Leather Tanning and Finishing Workers
- Line Installers and Cable Splicers
- Logging Industry Workers
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistics Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Marine Engineers
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Meteorologists
- Meter Readers, Utilities
- Methane/Landfill Gas Collection System Operators
- Methane/Landfill Gas Generation System Technicians
- Microbiologists
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Microfabrication Engineers
- Microfabrication Technicians
- Military Pilots
- Military Police
- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Enlisted
- Military Workers, Officers
- Millwrights
- Mining Engineers
- Molders
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Nanomaterials Scientists
- Nanosystems Engineers
- Nanotechnicians
- Nanotechnologists
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Nuclear Reactor Operators and Technicians
- Numerical Control Tool Programmers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Optical Engineers
- Optics Technicians
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Paper Processing Workers
- Petroleum Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Physicists
- Pilots
- Plastics Engineers
- Plastics Products Manufacturing Workers
- Plastics Technicians
- Power Plant Workers
- Precision Machinists
- Precision Metalworkers
- Prepress Workers
- Product Designers
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Radio Frequency Engineers
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Renewable Energy Careers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Integrators
- Robotics Technicians
- Roustabouts
- Rubber Goods Production Workers
- Sales Representatives
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Silverware Artisans and Workers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Solar Energy Sales Representatives
- Solar Engineers
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
- Space Lawyers
- Space Meteorologist
- Space Pilots
- Space Tourism Managers
- Spacecraft Test Technicians
- Sporting Goods Production Workers
- Stationary Engineers
- Steel Industry Workers
- Supply Chain Managers
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
- Test Drivers
- Textile Manufacturing Workers
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toy Industry Workers
- Traffic Engineers
- Traffic Managers
- Transportation Engineers
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Wind Energy Operations Managers
- Wind Energy Project Managers
- Wood Science and Technology Workers