Metallurgist

About the role

This position ensures material integrity across sovereign defense production, enabling rigorous process qualification and rapid problem resolution. The role bridges design, production, and supplier teams to uphold strict standards for defense and industrial applications. You will own the technical investigation of material failures and drive corrective actions that prevent recurrence in high-stakes environments. You will establish and maintain welding and joining procedures for ferrous and non-ferrous alloys to control quality and repeatability. You will review and approve material certifications, test reports, and supplier qualifications to confirm that all inputs and outputs meet stringent requirements. You will apply expertise in heat-treat design and control for steels and superalloys to ensure predictable mechanical performance and structural integrity. You will utilize metallographic preparation and analysis along with the interpretation of mechanical test results including tensile, impact, and hardness measurements. You will uphold industry and regulatory standards so that documentation accurately reflects current requirements and supports compliance.

Key facts

What you'll do

Establish welding and joining procedures for ferrous and non-ferrous alloys to ensure consistent quality and repeatability in production.

Investigate material failures using laboratory techniques and structured problem-solving methods to drive effective corrective actions.

Review and approve material certifications, test reports, and supplier qualifications to verify that inputs and outputs meet all specified requirements.

Maintain industry and regulatory standards so that documentation remains accurate and reflects current regulatory requirements.

Apply heat-treat design and control for steels and superalloys to achieve predictable mechanical performance and desired material properties.

Perform metallographic preparation and analysis and interpret mechanical test results including tensile, impact, and hardness measurements.

Apply knowledge of welding metallurgy and residual-stress considerations relevant to structural integrity in demanding environments.

Use statistical process control and data analysis tools such as Minitab or JMP to track and improve process capability over time.

Collaborate effectively with design, production, and supplier teams within a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Communicate technical decisions clearly so that complex metallurgical concepts are understood across cross-functional teams.

Contribute to process qualification activities that support defense and industrial applications requiring rigorous material traceability.

Support continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing data, identifying trends, and recommending actionable process adjustments.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field is required as the minimum education.

A minimum of 5 years of applied metallurgy experience in defense, aerospace, or high-reliability manufacturing environments is required.

Expertise in heat-treat design and control for steels and superalloys is necessary to ensure predictable mechanical performance.

Metallographic preparation and analysis and interpretation of mechanical test results including tensile, impact, and hardness measurements must be performed.

Knowledge of welding metallurgy and residual-stress considerations relevant to structural integrity is applied.

Statistical process control and data analysis tools such as Minitab or JMP are used to track and improve process capability.

Clear communication and effective collaboration occur within a fast-paced, mission-driven team environment.

Candidates must be able to meet export, citizenship, or ITAR requirements as stated in the role details.

The position requires the ability to work in laboratory and manufacturing floor settings with exposure to heat-treating equipment, industrial furnaces, chemical reagents, and noise.

Practical notes

Work is performed in laboratory and manufacturing floor settings with exposure to heat-treating equipment, industrial furnaces, chemical reagents, and noise.

Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

Metallurgists apply materials science to ensure structural integrity and performance under demanding conditions. Heat treatment, metallography, and mechanical testing are core methods used to validate materials for critical applications. Statistical tools and documented procedures support consistent quality and regulatory compliance. Cross-functional communication is essential when working with design, production, and supplier teams. This role operates in a defense-focused environment where standards and traceability govern everyday decisions.

Career growth

Engineering careers usually progress from individual contributor to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some engineers move into management and lead teams of five to twenty people. Others stay on the technical track. Growth follows demonstrated impact, not tenure alone. A typical engineering ladder has clear levels with defined expectations for scope, quality, and mentorship. Moving up usually requires owning outcomes end to end rather than completing assigned tickets.