The Research Metallurgist will focus primarily on physical metallurgy, with an emphasis on the thermomechanical behavior of steel. The successful candidate must possess, or be capable of rapidly developing, strong expertise in as‑rolled processes, heat treatment, and thermomechanical processing. This role actively supports alloy development, process optimization, and the improvement of product performance to meet customer and industry requirements.

The incumbent will work in a state‑of‑the‑art Research & Development facility, collaborating closely with fellow R&D staff, Technical Services, Applications Engineering, and Operations. The position reports directly to the Director of Research & Development.

Essential Responsibilities / Functions

• Develop optimal steel chemistries for various as‑rolled products to satisfy customer and application‑specific property requirements.
• Design reheating and rolling practices to ensure finished products achieve targeted mechanical and metallurgical properties.
• Conduct laboratory testing, including mechanical testing and characterization, to verify conformance with specifications and to support new product and process development initiatives.
• Perform metallographic analyses to examine microstructures, evaluate processing effects, and inform alloy and process optimization.
• Conduct failure analyses and root-cause investigations related to metallurgical quality issues or product development challenges.
• Prepare detailed technical reports documenting research activities, metallurgical investigations, and conclusions.
• Stay current with developments in physical metallurgy through review of technical literature, published research, and engagement with industry and academic peers, providing recommendations for new product opportunities or enhancements of existing products.

Education & Qualifications

• M.Sc. in Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline (required).
• Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline (preferred).
• Strong educational foundation in materials science, with emphasis on thermomechanical deformation, transformation behavior, and physical metallurgy of steels.

The Process Metallurgist ensures that all materials manufacturing processes operate with precision and consistently meet quality standards. This position leads the creation, documentation, and governance of process parameters, converting technical specifications into clear operational procedures, bills of materials, and routings that support efficient, repeatable production.

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Key Responsibilities
• Evaluate equipment capabilities and determine whether processes can achieve specific engineering and quality objectives.
• Develop mechanical and control systems of various thermal and mechanical processing equipment, including furnaces, rolling mills, wire drawing equipment, and more.
• Optimize existing manufacturing processes by analyzing workflows and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Partner closely with maintenance teams and external contractors to enhance process performance, product quality, and production throughput.
• Obtain and evaluate quotes for new equipment as required.
• Translate materials processing requirements into accurate quality documentation, bills of materials, and routings within the ERP system.
• Prepare process and product reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data and performance trends.
• Support root cause investigations using structured problem solving methodologies.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on key performance indicators such as on time delivery, scrap reduction, and overall efficiency.
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Required Skills & Abilities
• Minimum 3 years of experience as a Process Engineer in a materials manufacturing or closely related industry.
• Advanced analytical and problem solving capability; able to troubleshoot complex technical challenges.
• Experience with statistical analysis and Design of Experiments (DOE).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to convey technical concepts clearly to non technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or similar process improvement methodologies.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and test results.
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Education & Experience
• BS in Materials Science and Engineering or Metallurgical Engineering.
• Professional certification(s) such as Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher) and/or Lean Manufacturing preferred.

Summary: 

The Metallurgical Engineer provides a diverse range of technical services to internal and external customers. This position is responsible for providing metallurgical support during various phases of material processing, works with operations to ensure superior quality procedures are in place, and assists in experimentation with new materials and processes to develop and improve aerospace-grade metals and alloys end products.

Responsibilities include the following to be performed directly or delegated with oversight to others. Other duties may be assigned.

• Lead initiatives to develop and implement metallurgical processes, controls and improvements in support of product development and improvement to meet customer specifications, including the development of new grades.
• Review and analyze customer inquiries and specifications for new products.
• Provide technical support and problem solving of metallurgical topics for all phases of operations throughout Company,
• Test and analyze the properties of alloys, including their mechanical, thermal, and corrosion resistance, to optimize quality and performance.
• Analyze and determine root cause(s) of non-conformances and mechanical test failures.
• Author and review technical reports, specifications, and documentation related to material properties, performance and development processes.
• Monitor technical advances and identify emerging technologies to expand Company’s product portfolio.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science. Advanced degrees (MS or PHD) are a plus.