Description

Metallurgical and materials engineers conduct studies of the properties and characteristics of metals and other non-metallic materials and plan, design and develop machinery and processes to concentrate, extract, refine and process metals, alloys and other materials such as ceramics, semiconductors and composite materials. They are employed in consulting engineering firms, mining, metal processing and manufacturing companies, and in government, research and educational institutions.

Job Titles

• Ceramics engineer
• Corrosion engineer
• Electrometallurgical engineer
• Foundry engineer
• Hydrometallurgical engineer
• Materials engineer
• Metallurgical engineer
• Physical metallurgical engineer
• Pyrometallurgical engineer
• Welding engineer

Main Duties

• Conduct studies and design, develop and specify the processes, and machinery to concentrate, extract, refine and process metals from ores
• Conduct studies on the properties and characteristics of materials and design, develop and specify processes for moulding, shaping, forming and thermal treatment of metals, alloys and metallic systems, ceramics, semiconducting and other materials
• Conduct chemical and physical analytical studies, failure analyses and other studies and recommend material selection, design of materials, corrosion control measures, operational testing and other procedures
• Coordinate production testing and control of metal refining, smelting or foundry operations or non-metallic materials production operations
• Supervise technologists, technicians and other engineers and scientists.

Workplaces

• Consulting engineering companies
• Education institutions
• Governments
• Manufacturing firms
• Metal processing companies
• Mining companies
• Research institutions

Skills

• Decision Making
• Numeracy
• Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
• Oral Communication: Oral Expression
• Preventative Maintenance

Abilities

• Categorization Flexibility
• Deductive Reasoning
• Fluency of Ideas
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Numerical Ability

Personal Attributes

• Adaptability
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Collaboration
• Independence

Similar Occupations

• Engineering managers (20010)
• Chemists (21101)
• Other professional occupations in physical sciences (21109)
• Chemical engineers (21320)
• Mining engineers (21330)

Source: OaSIS