Also called: Metallurgical Engineer, Casting Engineer
Controls the chemistry and heat treatment of molten metal so castings like engine blocks and pump bodies come out strong and flaw-free.
You start the day reading a spectrometer printout from this morning's melt and tell the furnace crew to add a bit more nickel. Later you cut open a cracked casting, polish it, and study the metal grains under a microscope to find out what went wrong.
BLS figures for materials engineers.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in metallurgical or materials engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Materials engineers overall.
Low risk for 10 years. AI models help predict casting defects; controlling real melts and failure analysis stay human and in short supply.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2131.
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