Senior Materials Engineer
Senior materials engineers ensure compliance with specifications.
The Role
- Working with many different materials, including construction products and raw materials, chemicals, glass or polymers
- Selecting the best combination of materials for a job
- Optimising working practices
- Testing materials
- Analysing data
- Designing prototypes
- Looking for eco-friendly solutions
- Monitoring quality
- Checking compliance with legal requirements
- Development of business technical documents
- Development and delivery of technical training
- Auditing of testing or supply chain facilities
- Managing a development team
- Communicating new concepts to the design team
- Developing an understanding of specifications and client requirements to allow research, design and development of materials and working practices to ensure compliance with specifications
- Developing new technologies or products that allow a business to reduce cost and optimise resources
- Understanding the properties and benefits of different materials meaning you can deliver innovative designs that can reduce costs and increase efficiency
- Understanding the design process from initial concept to final production
- Monitoring and guiding the input of other engineers on a project
- Work around 50 hours a week, usually between 8am and 6pm
- There may be some shift work or working away from home however depending on an organisation’s needs
Salary
- Newly trained Senior Materials Engineers can earn in the region of £20,000–£30,000
- Trained with experience Senior Materials Engineers can earn in the region of £30,000–£40,000
- Chartered or Senior Materials Engineers can earn in the region of £40,000–£65,000
Qualifications & Training
Because this is a more senior role, a BSc Honours Degree, Diploma to an advanced standard, L6 NVQ/HNC or Scottish equivalent in an engineering field – preferably in materials engineering specifically – will most likely be required. For some positions, an engineering Masters Degree could be required as well, or membership status with a relevant engineering body.
However, experience is often very important too, so entrants with other qualifications or at least 10 years working experience might be considered.