Sr Engineer Materials -Aluminum Systems
Job Summary
The Senior Materials Engineer is responsible for supporting the Product Development Process by providing deep technical expertise in aluminum materials, with a strong emphasis on cast aluminum components and systems. This role partners with product development, manufacturing, and suppliers to ensure robust material selection, processing, and performance.
Job Responsibilities
Guides material selection and design decisions based on component requirements, particularly for structural and cosmetic cast aluminum parts.
Works closely with suppliers and manufacturing teams to improve casting quality, resolve defects, and support process development.
Supports technical leadership of failure analysis and root cause investigations related to aluminum components, including metallurgical evaluation, interpretation of lab results, and clear documentation of findings with actionable recommendations.
Applies knowledge of heat treatment and thermal processing specific to aluminum alloys, including how these processes affect strength, durability, and dimensional stability.
Collaborates with design and validation teams to understand mechanical behavior, including fatigue performance, and how it relates to casting quality, defects, and service loading conditions.
Engages in close cross-functional communication, providing technical guidance to engineering teams, supporting supplier quality improvements, and ensuring alignment between design intent and manufacturing capability.
Laboratory & Analytical Capability
The candidate should be comfortable working with standard metallurgical and analytical tools to evaluate aluminum materials, including techniques such as optical emission spectroscopy, microscopy, and fractography. The ability to interpret results and connect laboratory findings to real-world component performance is essential. Candidate must be willing to perform preventive maintenance on lab equipment, plan for ordering necessary lab equipment, and keep track of budget expenses.
Leadership & Communication
This role serves as a technical advisor in aluminum materials, providing guidance across engineering teams and mentoring others as needed. The candidate must be able to communicate technical findings clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Education Requirements
A Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering, Metallurgy, or a related field is required.
Experience Requirements
A minimum of five years of experience in materials engineering is required, with demonstrated hands-on experience in aluminum materials and casting processes, preferably in product development or manufacturing environments.
Pay Range
$93,400 - $145,000