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Materials Engineers

SOC 17-2131.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers materials engineering practice from supervised laboratory and production work through enterprise-level program leadership, spanning failure analysis, quality assurance, alloy development, process design, and technical team development across manufacturing, R&D, and advanced engineering industries.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Product failure data and laboratory test results — collect and organize under direct supervision to support root-cause investigations in an engineering laboratory setting.
  2. Raw material samples — conduct standard quality tests following established protocols on a supervised production floor or lab bench.
  3. Technical specifications — read and interpret with guidance to identify key material properties relevant to an assigned design objective.
  4. Material deterioration indicators — recognize and document observations using structured checklists under the direction of a senior engineer.
  5. CAD and analytical software tools — operate basic functions to support materials modeling tasks with direct oversight in an engineering office.
  6. Engineering literature and test reports — summarize findings in written format to assist project documentation under supervisor review.
  7. Thermal treatment procedures — follow prescribed protocols for modifying metal alloy samples in a supervised laboratory or production environment.
  8. Fabrication and joining methods — identify appropriate techniques from reference materials when presented with standard material combinations by a supervising engineer.
  9. Spreadsheet and database tools — enter, retrieve, and organize materials performance data to support team reporting in a manufacturing or R&D environment.
  10. Technical team communications — actively listen and relay information accurately during project meetings and laboratory briefings under mentored guidance.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Failure analysis investigations — analyze product failure data and laboratory results with limited oversight to identify probable causes and propose corrective actions in a manufacturing or R&D setting.
  2. Process control procedures — design and execute routine testing sequences, adjusting parameters based on observed results within established engineering frameworks.
  3. Material performance monitoring — evaluate deterioration trends over time using analytical software and document findings for project records in an industrial environment.
  4. Quality assurance activities — conduct and interpret tests on raw materials and finished products, applying accepted standards to render pass/fail determinations independently.
  5. Technical and economic trade-off assessments — evaluate specifications against cost and processing constraints to support design decisions on moderately complex product development projects.
  6. Metal alloy modification procedures — apply thermal and mechanical treatments to achieve targeted property outcomes, referencing process parameters established by senior engineers.
  7. Fabrication and joining method selection — determine suitable techniques for standard material combinations by applying engineering judgment in a production or prototype development context.
  8. Analytical and CAD software — use intermediate functions to model material behavior and visualize component designs in support of engineering analyses.
  9. Engineering reports and technical summaries — write clear, well-structured documents communicating test results and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  10. Junior technical staff — provide day-to-day guidance on laboratory procedures and data collection methods within an assigned project team.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex product failure investigations — lead full root-cause analyses autonomously, integrating laboratory data, field observations, and scientific principles to develop verified solutions in high-stakes manufacturing environments.
  2. Testing and process control programs — design comprehensive test protocols and direct their execution across multiple project phases, ensuring data integrity and regulatory compliance.
  3. Long-term material performance — evaluate deterioration mechanisms across diverse service conditions, applying systems analysis to predict end-of-life and recommend mitigation strategies.
  4. Quality control programs — supervise multi-stage testing of raw materials and finished products, resolving non-conformances and refining acceptance criteria based on statistical analysis.
  5. Process and product design evaluations — assess technical specifications and economic factors independently to recommend optimal materials solutions for novel or non-routine product development objectives.
  6. Advanced alloy modification processes — develop and validate thermal and mechanical treatment sequences to achieve precise property profiles for specialized engineering applications.
  7. Materials selection and joining strategy — determine and document optimal fabrication and joining approaches for complex, multi-material assemblies in aerospace, automotive, or advanced manufacturing environments.
  8. Technical staff development — guide engineers and technicians in selecting and developing materials for specific product applications, providing mentorship and technical review throughout the project lifecycle.
  9. Cross-functional problem solving — apply inductive and deductive reasoning to resolve ambiguous materials challenges by synthesizing chemistry, physics, and engineering knowledge across full project scope.
  10. ERP and CAM systems — integrate materials engineering data into enterprise resource planning and computer-aided manufacturing workflows to optimize production processes and reduce materials waste.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational failure analysis strategy — establish frameworks and standards for systematic product failure investigation across business units, driving continuous improvement in materials reliability at enterprise scale.
  2. Materials testing and quality governance — set organizational policies for testing, process control, and quality assurance, ensuring alignment with industry standards and regulatory requirements across all product lines.
  3. Materials performance and lifecycle strategy — lead enterprise-wide programs to monitor, model, and manage material deterioration, informing long-range product design and asset management decisions.
  4. Research and development direction — define strategic priorities for new materials development programs, allocating resources and guiding multidisciplinary teams toward breakthrough product and process innovations.
  5. Technical and economic decision authority — evaluate high-stakes design objectives against technical feasibility, cost, and risk at the portfolio level, advising executive leadership on materials investment strategies.
  6. Advanced processing technology roadmaps — lead the development and industrialization of novel alloy modification and thermal processing capabilities, positioning the organization at the forefront of materials engineering practice.
  7. Cross-enterprise materials standards — establish and champion companywide standards for fabrication, joining, and materials selection, influencing industry consortia and standards bodies on best practices.
  8. Engineering talent development — build and sustain a high-performing materials engineering function by designing career pathways, mentoring senior engineers, and cultivating organizational knowledge management systems.
  9. Innovation culture and intellectual leadership — foster a culture of scientific curiosity and systematic experimentation, driving adoption of emerging analytical tools, computational methods, and novel materials across the organization.
  10. Strategic stakeholder engagement — represent the organization's materials engineering capabilities to customers, regulatory agencies, and industry partners, translating complex technical knowledge into strategic business value.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Automotive Sheet Metal Engineer · Ceramic Design Engineer · Ceramic Engineer · Ceramic Research Engineer · Ceramics Test Engineer · Corrosion Engineer · Design Engineer · Engineer · Extractive Metallurgist · Extrusion Engineer · Failure Analysis Engineer · Forensic Materials Engineer
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Complex Problem SolvingScienceReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingMathematicsWritingJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningMonitoringInstructingService OrientationOperations AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationTime ManagementManagement of Personnel ResourcesCoordinationPersuasionNegotiationOperations MonitoringLearning StrategiesSocial Perceptiveness
Knowledge domains
Engineering and TechnologyChemistryPhysicsMathematicsProduction and ProcessingEnglish LanguageDesignComputers and ElectronicsMechanicalCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and Management
Abilities
Deductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningCategory FlexibilityOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionWritten ComprehensionWritten ExpressionProblem SensitivityNear VisionInformation Ordering
Work styles
Attention to DetailInnovationIntellectual CuriosityDependabilityCautiousnessAchievement Orientation
Technology
Analytical or scientific softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareObject or component oriented development softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareDevelopment environment softwareComputer aided manufacturing CAM softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareElectronic mail softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
  2. Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
  3. Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
  4. Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
  5. Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
  6. Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
  7. Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.
  8. Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.
CIP education codes
14.060114.180114.200114.280114.3201

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.