Job Description

Materials Engineer / Metallurgist

This established third-party materials testing and quality assurance lab serves a wide variety of highly regulated industries, including aerospace, industrial manufacturing, and automotive. Located south of Dayton, the facility specializes in both nondestructive testing and destructive metallurgical analysis. The lab is known for providing rigorous certification, failure analysis, and quality verification of raw materials and finished components, supporting clients with precise engineering standards and fast-paced operational turnarounds.

The Metallurgical Department is seeking an entry-level to mid-level Materials Engineer to join a close-knit, highly analytical team. This hybrid workflow role spans both the technical front end and reporting back end of laboratory operations. Responsibilities range from interpreting customer purchase orders and engineering specifications to preparing samples, running destructive tests, analyzing microstructures, and producing final quality certification reports. The position offers comprehensive local training on internal testing procedures and provides a long-term growth path alongside experienced industry experts.

Responsibilities

• Create technical work orders and testing instructions by interpreting customer purchase orders, engineering drawings, and regulatory specifications
• Perform hands-on metallographic sample preparation, including sectioning with wet abrasive saws and bandsaws, mounting, grinding, polishing, and chemical or electrochemical etching.
• Conduct a variety of mechanical and physical laboratory tests, including hardness testing, tensile testing, Charpy impact testing, and chemical composition analysis.
• Perform microscopic and macroscopic evaluations of material microstructures and evaluate components for failure analysis.
• Analyze test data against governing customer and industry specifications to generate accurate, formal certification reports.
• Communicate directly with customers regarding test status, data interpretation, and final report deliverables.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and efficient laboratory environment while managing multiple processing jobs simultaneously in a fast-paced setting.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Physics.
• Demonstrated foundational knowledge of materials science, metallic structures, and physical property evaluation.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong written communication skills for creating accurate technical reports.
• A curious, highly adaptable, and learning-oriented mindset with a genuine drive to master specialized testing methods.
• Ability to balance hands-on laboratory sample preparation with analytical desk-based reporting.
• Proficiency with standard computer applications, including Microsoft Office
• Must be locally based or willing to commute to a facility located south of Dayton.

Preferred Requirements

• Prior laboratory experience from academic coursework, undergraduate research, or industry co-ops/internships.
• Direct experience with metallographic sample preparation
• Familiarity with mechanical testing equipment and microstructure image analysis software.
• Basic exposure to failure analysis concepts and material processing methods.
• Prior exposure to quality-regulated environments such as aerospace, automotive, mining, or industrial manufacturing.

Compensation/Benefits

• Base Salary: $60,000 to $70,000 for entry-level candidates, with flexibility up to $80,000 for candidates with directly relevant industry testing experience.
• Training: Fully on-site local training program covering all internal testing standards, equipment operation, and reporting protocols.

Location

On-site position located just south of Dayton, Ohio