Materials Engineers

With new products being developed daily, materials engineers are constantly under pressure to integrate new technology and science. Having the imagination to consider all of the possibilities and then being versatile enough to adapt one application of a metal, ceramic, polymer, or other material to another situation are perhaps the most essential qualities for materials engineers. To accomplish this, materials engineers must first learn how the material may be applicable to their industry or product line, and then decide how to adjust their current manufacturing process to incorporate it.

In addition to having a good mechanical aptitude for developing parts and tooling, one of the more basic qualities for any student considering a career in materials engineering is a solid understanding of the properties of the material they work with—be it metals, ceramics, polymers, or a composite of these materials.

As in every scientific endeavor, there are always a varying number of factors which influence the outcome of the experiment, and the chemical configurations of a specific material is no different. It takes an individual with an extraordinary amount of patience, focus, and determination to notice precisely what factors are achieving the desired results. Successful materials engineers pay attention to the smallest detail, note the nuances between experiments, and then use that information to develop further tests or theories. Having a certain amount of critical distance helps materials engineers step back from the minutia and reassess the direction in which they're headed.

Materials engineers need to be inquisitive, to take creative steps toward improvements by constantly asking questions and to take a fresh look at familiar practices. In addition, good communication skills are vital for success in engineering. Materials engineers may be required to write reports and present their research before large audiences at industry seminars.