Materials Engineer

Materials engineers deal with the production, structure, applications, and with the technological and manufacturing properties of established materials—and drive their improvement and adaptation to new uses. Their focus is on materials used to make technical components of all kinds: metallic materials (ferrous and non-ferrous) such as steel, aluminum, or zinc, as well as non-metallic ones like paper, binders, polymers, and composites. They investigate and define material properties, study behavior under load, and develop new materials along with forming, joining, and surface-treatment processes; they also refine existing materials and manufacturing or machining methods. When required, they design and engineer machines, equipment, and plants for producing these materials. In materials testing and quality assurance they run tests, document findings, and prepare test reports. In materials-processing industries they select suitable materials so components and products can be manufactured efficiently, cost-effectively, and with minimal environmental impact. In sales roles, they prepare quotations and present them to clients.

Materials engineers can work, for example, in:

• companies focused on testing, researching, and developing materials, e.g., in the chemical, ceramics, glass, plastics, wood, or metal industries
• machinery and plant engineering firms
• public-sector bodies such as materials testing authorities
• technical inspection and certification organizations, engineering consultancies, and research institutes

The salary level for Materials Engineer in Germany is: from 5066 up to 7559 EUR per month

What is it about?

Materials engineers investigate, test, develop, and refine materials and composites. They also contribute to quality assurance, help design machinery and systems for producing these materials, and work in technical sales.

Developing materials

Advanced materials underpin many key industries: without the right material, new technologies rarely reach application. From lightweight alloys and carbon fiber in aircraft to ultra-tough steels for bridges, cableways, tunnels, or pipelines—each use case requires an optimal material. Materials engineers deliberately tailor properties during development and manufacturing to ensure best performance. Nanotechnology plays a major role by enabling property control at the atomic and molecular scale, for example to achieve ultra-smooth surfaces or radiation-blocking optical components.

Design, manufacturing, and testing

In design and production, materials engineers collaborate closely with design specialists and manufacturing engineers to combine suitable materials with appropriate processes and equipment into reliable, cost-effective components.

Materials testing and quality assurance employ chemical, physical, mechanical, fracture-mechanical, and metallographic methods, depending on the material. The resulting parameters feed into component calculations and can, in turn, influence manufacturing decisions.

Metallurgy and dental technology

In metallurgy, engineers focus on producing and processing metals and alloys—from melting, powder, and forming techniques (e.g., pyro- and hydrometallurgy) to high-tech solutions for the steel, aluminum, and copper industries. Tasks range from environmentally responsible conversion into quality products (e.g., body panels, tubes) and manufacturing of complex parts (such as engine blocks) to powder metallurgy for hard metals.

In dental technology, they work on dental materials and processes for restorations such as crowns, bridges, implants, and full dentures. They select suitable manufacturing routes (e.g., modeling, casting, CAD/CAM) and analyze materials and processes for dental device engineering.

Additional fields

In failure analysis, materials engineers determine root causes using scientific methods—often for expert reports—and propose preventive measures such as design improvements, alternative material choices, or modified operating conditions. This is highly relevant in patent practice. Technical inspection bodies focus on accident prevention by testing new installations before commissioning and monitoring compliance with safety and environmental regulations.