Metallurgy Laboratory Engineer
Mission / Purpose of the Job
The Metallurgy Engineer supports the durability, cleanliness, and metallurgical compliance of diesel engine and transmission components. The primary mission includes:
- Validating heat treatment outcomes (especially induction hardening and carburizing) through precise metallurgical analysis and inspection.
- Collaborating with the Heat Treatment Engineer to interpret process trends and address deviations.
- Leading failure and cleanliness investigations, applying metallurgical knowledge to identify causes of material- or contamination-related nonconformities.
- Partnering with technicians to improve preparation accuracy, documentation, and adherence to Volvo standards.
- Ensuring compliance with ISO/ASTM standards, Volvo specifications, and best practices in metallurgical testing.
Scope and Influence
This non-managerial technical role is foundational to quality, production support, and lab advancement. The Metallurgy Engineer works across departments to enhance metallurgical inspection accuracy, technical cleanliness investigations, and procedural standardization.
Key Responsibilities/Accountabilities
Validate induction hardening and carburizing outcomes by inspecting microstructure, case depth, and hardness.
Conduct failure analysis using SEM/EDS, hardness profiling, microstructure, and macro/micro etching.
Support technical cleanliness efforts, including contamination source identification and material-type analysis.
Collaborate with lab technicians to improve preparation methods, documentation consistency, and inspection alignment with Volvo and ISO procedures.
Conduct particle classification and reporting using VDA 19.1 / ISO 16232 standards.
Assist with process audits and material quality reviews for in-house and supplier operations.
Maintain a clean and tidy work area with a 5S mindset.
Attend trainings and meetings as per orientation.
Improving My Job
Lead initiatives to standardize lab processes, improve test documentation, and reduce variation in metallurgical evaluations.
Assist in root cause investigations tied to material failures, hardness deviation, or cleanliness nonconformities.
Identify and implement improvements in sample prep, inspection flow, or image/data storage.
Developing Myself
Participate in advanced metallurgy and testing certifications, including: ASM Mechanical Testing, SEM Operator Training, Metallurgy for Non-Metallurgists.
Stay up to date on cleanliness inspection techniques, Volvo STD 107-0002, and VDA 19.1, especially in relation to particle behavior and source identification.
Developing My Team
Mentor technicians in preparation techniques, etching protocols, and image quality expectations.
Act as a reference for metallurgical standards and test requirements during audits or new program launches.
Support global alignment by reviewing procedures and lab practices from benchmark Volvo sites.
Information Systems
Microscopes & Analysis Systems: Jomesa (cleanliness inspection and image classification), Leica (metallography and general microscopy), SEM/EBSD/EDS (Oxford or equivalent), Brinell Hardness Tester, Vickers / Rockwell Testers, Ultrasonic inspection system (for case depth validation), Tensile Testing Machine, Carbon Analyzer Tester, Nondestructive Testing Tools (Barkhausen noise inspection).
Digital Tools & Systems: Power BI (trend monitoring & dashboards), Power Apps (lab input interface & workflows), SharePoint (document control & report archiving), Office 365.
Targets and Results
Turnaround time for hardness and cleanliness inspections.
Accurate particle classification in cleanliness reports.
Case depth and microstructure conformance rate for heat-treated parts.
Compensation and Benefits
The base pay for this position is set at $83,500 - $103,100 annually, with the range determined by factors such as geographic location, work-related knowledge, certifications, skills, education, and experience. Additionally, the company offers competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance, generous paid time off, competitive matching retirement savings plans, a focus on professional and personal development through Volvo Group University, programs that make work-life balance easier, and a commitment to pay equity and internal equity within the team. The company also values its employees' safety, health, and wellbeing, and strives to create a positive and empowering work environment.