Metallurgist

Metallurgist job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Metallurgists work with a wide range of products including non-ferrous metals, copper sheet/wire, precious metals, iron, steel, stainless steel, zinc, copper and aluminium alloys.

Responsibilities typically comprise:

• liaising with clients to determine and interpret design requirements
• providing technical advice about the suitability of metals for different purposes
• making recommendations and advising about product feasibility
• undertaking new product research
• creating precise designs for components
• developing prototypes and innovative solutions to problems
• investigating corrosion and metal failure/fatigue
• liaising with and supervising engineering and technical staff
• ensuring adherence to manufacturing quality standards
• overseeing operational quality control processes
• using specialist computer applications
• carrying out laboratory based analysis of samples
• using both destructive and non-destructive techniques to test composition
• developing new test/repair processes
• investigating production problems.

Typical employers of metallurgists

• metal and materials producers
• manufacturing and process companies
• foundries
• research and development organizations
• specialist consultancies
• utilities
• the Civil Service (particularly the Ministry of Defence).

Jobs are advertised online, by careers services and recruitment agencies, in newspapers and in relevant publications including the Welding Institute Journal, The Engineer, Engineering, Materials World and Engineering News-Record (ENR). Relevant experience, whilst not essential, can be helpful - many employers offer final year project work, sponsorship, vacation work and 'year out' placements.

Qualifications and training required

A degree in metallurgy, materials science/technology or a similar engineering subject is normally necessary for entry into the profession. Engineers wishing to gain chartered status (CEng) must have a Masters degree accredited by a relevant engineering institution (either a four-year MEng or a BEng/BSc together with an MSc).

Specialist postgraduate qualifications are viewed favourably by employers, and are particularly of benefit for graduates without relevant first degrees or for candidates wishing to gain a research post.

Key skills for metallurgists

• innovation
• commercial awareness
• organisation
• interpersonal skills
• problem solving skills
• communication skills
• team working skills
• good IT skills
• analytical skills.