Materials Engineers

Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications. Develop new uses for known materials. Includes those engineers working with composite materials or specializing in one type of material, such as graphite, metal and metal alloys, ceramics and glass, plastics and polymers, and naturally occurring materials. Includes metallurgists and metallurgical engineers, ceramic engineers, and welding engineers.

Most important skills

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Mathematics
Science
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving

Key knowledge

Engineering and Technology
Mathematics
Production and Processing
Physics
English Language
Chemistry
Computers and Electronics
Design

What the work involves

Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.
Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports.
Solve problems in a number of engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear, and aerospace.

Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Realistic, Investigative, Conventional.

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education: Bachelor's Degree (80% of respondents)
Related experience: None (32%)
On-the-job training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (28%)
Preparation level: O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Licensing: Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.

Check before planning

Licensing for Materials Engineers is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Work environment

How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).

Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.

Rankings compare typical U.S. occupation-level work conditions; individual jobs and employers vary. Data: O*NET 31.0 Work Context and BLS wages (May 2025).
Condition	Level	Compared with other occupations	Most common answer (O*NET survey)
Contact with others	Low	Lower on contact with others than 71% of occupations compared	68% of surveyed respondents chose “Contact with others most of the time”
Dealing with the public	Low	Lower on dealing with the public than 73% of occupations compared	32% of surveyed respondents chose “Important”
Teamwork	High	Higher on teamwork than 69% of occupations compared	60% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important”
Freedom to make decisions	Moderate	Lower on freedom to make decisions than 55% of occupations compared	60% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom”
Time pressure	Very low	Lower on time pressure than 91% of occupations compared	76% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week”
Conflict situations	Low	Lower on conflict situations than 71% of occupations compared	44% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people	Very low	Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 90% of occupations compared	64% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Consequence of error	Moderate	Higher on consequence of error than 55% of occupations compared	40% of surveyed respondents chose “Serious”

Work-pressure profile

Time pressure: very low
Conflict situations: low
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
Consequence of error: moderate

Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.

Full answer distributions