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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.
Subscriber feature

Authoritative source data identified for 998 occupations

How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.

Emerging
  1. AI-assisted literature retrieval — queries LLM tools to surface relevant materials science research and prior failure analysis cases, then manually verifies sources against primary literature before incorporating findings WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  2. Failure data summarization — delegates structured datasets of product failure observations to an AI assistant to produce initial pattern summaries, reviewing all outputs for domain accuracy Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Developing
  1. Laboratory test design support — uses AI tools to draft preliminary test matrices for raw material or finished product quality evaluations, then refines parameters based on engineering judgment and specification constraints WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  2. Technical specification parsing — directs an AI assistant to extract and tabulate key performance requirements from dense technical documents, then evaluates economic and process feasibility independently Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  3. Material performance monitoring — applies AI-generated trend analyses on deterioration data as a first-pass diagnostic, cross-referencing results against physical inspection findings before drawing conclusions Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Proficient
  1. Root-cause analysis orchestration — integrates AI-generated hypotheses from failure data and lab test results into a structured fault tree, retaining authorship of the causal logic and final engineering judgment 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..
  2. Process control procedure drafting — directs an AI agent to generate draft testing and processing control protocols, then reviews and revises every critical parameter against regulatory standards and material science principles Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  3. Comparative materials evaluation — tasks an AI tool with synthesizing trade-off analyses across candidate material properties, cost, and process compatibility, then leads the final selection decision with domain expertise WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Advanced
  1. AI-augmented alloy and materials development workflow — architects a systematic pipeline where AI tools screen candidate compositions and predict properties, while the engineer defines the problem constraints, validates outputs against experimental data, and directs iterative refinement cycles 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..
  2. Cross-functional AI integration leadership — establishes standards for AI tool use across materials testing and failure analysis teams, defining validation checkpoints and escalation criteria that preserve engineering accountability on complex problem-solving tasks Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
SAFI positioning
Top skill: Complex Problem Solving
Score: 59.2 / 100
precision: exact
WEF cluster
Computational Thinking
computational_thinking
Sources:WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.

Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework

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.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.

1Communication10 statements
Emerging
  1. Material test reports — documents laboratory findings using standard engineering terminology in written summaries for peer review 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.
  2. Technical listening — captures specifications and project requirements during engineering briefings through structured note-taking Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Failure analysis communication — explains root-cause findings from material degradation studies to multidisciplinary project teams using accessible language 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.
  2. Technical specification review — summarizes evaluation of material properties and economic factors in written reports for engineering stakeholders 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.
Applying
  1. Cross-functional material briefings — presents alloy selection rationale, processing parameters, and performance trade-offs to manufacturing and design teams with clarity and precision 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.
  2. Test procedure documentation — authors comprehensive testing and quality control protocols that guide technical staff through fabrication and joining method validation O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Regulatory correspondence — drafts technical responses to client and regulatory inquiries regarding material compliance and specification conformance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Executive materials communication — translates complex failure analysis data and material science findings into strategic recommendations for senior leadership and clients 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.
  2. Published technical authorship — produces peer-reviewed papers and industry white papers on novel alloy modifications, material performance monitoring, and deterioration modeling 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.
  3. Cross-industry knowledge transfer — delivers conference presentations and training workshops that advance industry understanding of emerging materials technologies Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
2Leadership10 statements
Emerging
  1. Lab task ownership — takes initiative in completing assigned material testing procedures without prompting in supervised laboratory environments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Peer guidance — assists junior technicians in understanding material sampling and specimen preparation protocols Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Test program coordination — organizes sequencing of quality control tests on raw materials and finished products, directing technician activities to meet project timelines 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.
  2. Technical mentorship — guides junior engineers in interpreting material performance data and applying relevant testing standards 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.
Applying
  1. Technical staff development — directs and coaches technical staff in developing materials for specific product applications, ensuring alignment with engineering specifications O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Testing program leadership — designs and oversees end-to-end material testing and process control programs, holding team accountable for data integrity and schedule adherence 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.
  3. Project decision authority — makes binding recommendations on material selection, fabrication methods, and joining techniques that shape product development direction 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.
Exceeding
  1. Materials engineering program direction — leads cross-functional materials engineering initiatives from concept through production, setting technical vision and resource strategy 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.
  2. Organizational capability building — establishes laboratory testing standards, mentorship structures, and knowledge-sharing systems that elevate the entire materials engineering function Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Strategic materials roadmapping — champions investment in novel material platforms and processing technologies by building organizational consensus and securing executive sponsorship Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition10 statements
Emerging
  1. Learning gap identification — recognizes limits of personal chemistry and physics knowledge when encountering unfamiliar material systems and seeks targeted resources Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Study strategy selection — chooses appropriate reference standards and textbooks to build competence in specific alloy systems or processing techniques Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Problem-approach reflection — evaluates the effectiveness of chosen analytical frameworks before and after conducting failure analysis investigations 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.
  2. Skill inventory — periodically assesses own proficiency across materials characterization techniques and identifies domains requiring further development Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Analytical self-monitoring — tracks accuracy of personal material performance predictions against empirical test results and adjusts mental models accordingly 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.
  2. Knowledge transfer calibration — gauges own explanatory effectiveness when guiding technical staff and adapts communication approach based on observed comprehension 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.
  3. Cognitive load management — structures complex multi-material evaluation tasks into deliberate phases to sustain analytical rigor across extended projects Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Disciplinary boundary awareness — accurately identifies intersections between materials science, manufacturing engineering, and chemistry knowledge that inform novel problem-solving strategies 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.
  2. Expert blind spot mitigation — actively seeks external critique of assumptions embedded in material specifications and test designs to surface blind spots in own technical reasoning Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Meta-level learning system design — creates structured reflection processes for materials engineering teams that institutionalize continuous learning from project failures and successes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking10 statements
Emerging
  1. Data observation — identifies patterns in material test result data by comparing measured properties against specified tolerances under supervisor guidance 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.
  2. Assumption questioning — recognizes when material performance expectations are based on incomplete or unverified assumptions about operating conditions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Failure hypothesis generation — develops and ranks competing explanations for material degradation events using laboratory evidence and established failure mode frameworks 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.
  2. Specification evaluation — systematically assesses technical specifications against economic feasibility constraints to identify conflicts in process or product design objectives 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.
Applying
  1. Root cause determination — applies structured analytical reasoning to isolate causal factors in product failures by synthesizing laboratory data, service history, and material science principles 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.
  2. Process control logic — evaluates processing procedure parameters using empirical evidence and thermodynamic principles to determine optimal thermal and mechanical treatment sequences 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.
  3. Method selection reasoning — weighs fabrication and joining technique options against material compatibility, performance requirements, and manufacturing constraints to reach defensible recommendations 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.
Exceeding
  1. Systems-level failure analysis — integrates cross-domain evidence from chemistry, physics, and production environments to construct comprehensive causal models of complex material failure scenarios 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.
  2. Predictive deterioration modeling — develops critical evaluation frameworks that anticipate long-term material performance degradation under service conditions before empirical failure data exists 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.
  3. Evidence-based innovation gatekeeping — critically evaluates proposed novel material solutions against rigorous scientific and economic criteria, rejecting promising but insufficiently substantiated claims Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration10 statements
Emerging
  1. Lab team participation — contributes to shared testing schedules and communicates specimen status updates to colleagues in laboratory settings Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-discipline listening — attends and actively engages in design review meetings to understand how material selection decisions affect manufacturing and product performance teams 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.
Developing
  1. Interdisciplinary coordination — partners with mechanical and manufacturing engineers to align material property requirements with fabrication process capabilities 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.
  2. Quality team integration — collaborates with quality control personnel to design testing regimens that satisfy both engineering and production standards 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.
Applying
  1. Product development team contribution — functions as the materials science authority within cross-functional product development teams, integrating material constraints into design iterations 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.
  2. Supplier technical collaboration — works jointly with raw material suppliers to evaluate material certifications, resolve specification disputes, and verify incoming material quality 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.
  3. Conflict navigation in design trade-offs — facilitates resolution of competing priorities between cost, performance, and manufacturability across engineering, procurement, and production stakeholders Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Multi-organization consortium leadership — leads collaborative materials research partnerships across organizations, academic institutions, or government agencies toward shared technical objectives Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-functional knowledge brokering — bridges communication and knowledge gaps between materials science, product design, and manufacturing teams to accelerate development cycles 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.
  3. Collaborative standards development — co-authors industry testing standards and material specification guidelines through professional engineering bodies in cooperation with peer experts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
6Character10 statements
Emerging
  1. Data integrity — records material test results accurately and completely without omitting inconvenient observations in laboratory notebooks and digital systems 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.
  2. Professional accountability — acknowledges errors in material characterization procedures promptly and initiates corrective retesting without concealment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Ethical specification reporting — reports material performance deficiencies and test failures honestly to project stakeholders even when findings conflict with project schedules or cost targets 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.
  2. Confidentiality maintenance — protects proprietary material formulations, processing parameters, and client specifications in accordance with professional and contractual obligations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Safety-first material advocacy — raises concerns about material suitability for safety-critical applications based on evidence, regardless of organizational pressure to approve specifications 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.
  2. Professional standard adherence — applies ASTM, ISO, and other relevant materials testing standards consistently and transparently, documenting any approved deviations with full justification 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.
  3. Unbiased failure attribution — assigns root cause responsibility in failure analyses based solely on evidence, avoiding attribution that favors organizational or client interests 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.
Exceeding
  1. Ethical culture modeling — establishes and upholds norms of scientific integrity in materials engineering teams, addressing ethical lapses in data reporting or specification compliance directly Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Public safety stewardship — advocates for material safety standards in public-facing applications through professional engineering bodies, prioritizing societal welfare over commercial interests Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Transparent uncertainty communication — explicitly communicates confidence intervals, knowledge gaps, and assumptions embedded in material performance recommendations to decision-makers 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.
7Creativity10 statements
Emerging
  1. Alternative material exploration — proposes substitute materials for consideration when primary specifications cannot be met, drawing on foundational chemistry and engineering knowledge 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.
  2. Novel test adaptation — suggests modifications to standard testing procedures to better characterize unusual material behavior observed during routine evaluation 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.
Developing
  1. Processing innovation — generates unconventional thermal or mechanical treatment sequences to achieve target alloy properties beyond what standard procedures specify 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.
  2. Fabrication method creativity — identifies non-standard joining or forming approaches that satisfy competing material compatibility and structural performance requirements 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.
Applying
  1. Failure-driven design innovation — uses insights from product failure analyses to conceive material system redesigns that preempt entire classes of degradation mechanisms 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.
  2. Multi-material architecture development — creates novel composite or hybrid material configurations that achieve performance combinations unachievable with single-phase materials 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.
  3. Experimental design invention — constructs original laboratory test methodologies to characterize material behaviors for which no established standard test protocol exists Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Materials platform innovation — conceives and champions entirely new classes of engineered materials or processing approaches that expand the field's capability frontier 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.
  2. Cross-domain inspiration application — imports concepts from biology, nanotechnology, or other disciplines to generate breakthrough material solutions for persistent engineering challenges Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Innovation ecosystem cultivation — builds organizational environments and experimental cultures that systematically generate, test, and refine creative materials engineering hypotheses Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset10 statements
Emerging
  1. Setback reframing — treats failed material tests and rejected specifications as informative data points rather than personal failures during early career projects 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.
  2. Feedback seeking — actively requests critique of material evaluation reports and test designs from senior engineers to accelerate technical development Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Skill expansion commitment — pursues training in unfamiliar characterization techniques such as electron microscopy or spectroscopic analysis when project demands exceed current proficiency 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.
  2. Iterative improvement — revises material selection and processing recommendations through successive experimental cycles, incorporating each round of test results into updated hypotheses 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.
Applying
  1. Challenge acceptance — volunteers for material development assignments at the edge of current expertise, viewing technical difficulty as an accelerator of professional growth Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Literature-driven learning — continuously integrates findings from current materials science research publications into practice, updating established approaches when evidence warrants 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.
  3. Failure analysis learning system — extracts and documents transferable lessons from every major material failure investigation to improve future analytical and preventive capabilities 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.
Exceeding
  1. Learning culture leadership — models intellectual humility and curiosity in the face of novel material challenges, inspiring technical teams to pursue growth rather than default to known solutions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Deliberate expertise expansion — systematically develops competence in adjacent disciplines such as computational materials modeling or additive manufacturing to broaden engineering impact 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.
  3. Field advancement orientation — contributes findings from challenging project failures to professional communities, transforming organizational setbacks into shared industry learning Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness10 statements
Emerging
  1. Attention management — maintains focused observation during material specimen preparation and testing procedures to avoid measurement errors from distraction Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Emotional regulation in review — manages frustration when laboratory results invalidate prior assumptions, maintaining objectivity during peer review sessions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Deliberate analysis pacing — pauses before drawing conclusions from ambiguous material performance data to ensure interpretation is evidence-based rather than assumption-driven 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.
  2. Stress-aware decision-making — recognizes when time pressure on material approval decisions is compromising analytical rigor and advocates for appropriate evaluation timelines 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.
Applying
  1. Intentional specification review — approaches technical specification evaluation with structured attention to economic, performance, and safety dimensions without anchoring prematurely on initial impressions 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.
  2. Present-moment laboratory awareness — monitors material processing parameters and test instrument readings with sustained attentiveness, catching process deviations before they compromise results 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.
  3. Conflict de-escalation — maintains composure and intellectual focus during contentious failure attribution discussions, guiding teams back to evidence-based reasoning Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Systemic attention design — structures materials engineering workflows and review checkpoints to protect analytical quality from organizational urgency and cognitive fatigue Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Mindful risk communication — delivers material safety concerns and quality findings to stakeholders with calibrated intentionality, balancing urgency with factual precision to avoid panic or dismissal 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.
  3. Team emotional climate stewardship — monitors and shapes the psychological environment of materials engineering teams to sustain intellectual rigor and constructive engagement under project pressure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude10 statements
Emerging
  1. Persistence through failure — continues systematic testing of material specimens despite repeated inconclusive results, maintaining methodological discipline until valid data is obtained 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.
  2. Uncertainty tolerance — proceeds with material evaluation tasks in the absence of complete specifications or reference data, making reasoned judgments from available information Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Extended investigation endurance — sustains analytical effort across long-duration material deterioration monitoring programs without degradation in observation quality or rigor 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.
  2. Pressure resistance — maintains commitment to scientifically sound material recommendations when organizational or client pressure favors expedient but technically inadequate solutions 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.
Applying
  1. Complex failure investigation perseverance — drives ambiguous and technically difficult failure analyses to definitive root cause conclusions despite incomplete data and organizational impatience 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.
  2. Innovation setback resilience — continues iterative alloy modification and processing experimentation through multiple failed attempts, sustaining momentum toward performance targets 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.
  3. Adversarial technical courage — presents unpopular material rejection decisions or safety concerns to resistant stakeholders with evidence-based conviction and professional composure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Long-horizon program leadership — steers multi-year materials development programs through technical plateaus, funding uncertainty, and organizational skepticism to successful completion Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Field-defining persistence — pursues novel material solutions to problems the field considers intractable, sustaining experimental effort and intellectual commitment across years of incremental progress 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.
  3. Organizational resilience modeling — demonstrates and cultivates the capacity of materials engineering teams to recover from major project failures, regulatory setbacks, and resource constraints without losing technical ambition Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
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.