Occupation
Materials engineer
Materials engineers select, develop, and test the metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites used in products and structures. A large part of the role is failure investigation: working out why a part cracked, corroded, or wore out, and what should change.
Also known as: Metallurgical engineer · Materials and metallurgy engineer
Occupation content
Part of Engineering and technical design
What the work involves
- Specify materials, coatings, and heat treatments against service and processing requirements.
- Plan mechanical, corrosion, and metallurgical testing and interpret the results.
- Examine failed parts using microscopy and fracture analysis and write findings up.
- Support qualification of new alloys, polymers, or suppliers against agreed acceptance criteria.
- Advise design and manufacturing teams on joining, forming, and finishing constraints.
- Maintain material specifications, test records, and certification documentation.
How people commonly enter
- An accredited bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering or metallurgy.
- A postgraduate materials degree taken after a chemistry, physics, or mechanical engineering degree.
- A laboratory technologist route into materials engineering, combined with further study.
- A graduate engineer position in a metals, composites, or manufacturing organisation.
Typical training: Bachelor's degree
Licensing: Regulated in some jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Typical work context
Lab or workshop · Team based · Quiet focus · Desk based · Predictable routine
Related interests
Investigative (analytical) · Realistic (hands-on)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Engineering and technical design.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Materials engineers · United States
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- O*NET OnLine — occupation search: materials engineer · United States
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- Employment and Social Development Canada — National Occupational Classification (NOC) · Canada
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Engineering and technical design in Canada, not a figure for Materials engineer. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Engineering and technical design family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Engineering and technical design: education pathways
Some roles in Engineering and technical design may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Engineering and technical design: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)