Job description Materials Engineer in the Ottawa Region

Find out what work is like for a materials engineer in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Metallurgical and materials engineers (NOC 21322).

Metallurgical and materials engineers

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.

Work week duration

Metallurgical and materials engineers usually work more than 40 hours per week.
More than 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Metallurgical and materials engineers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • 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.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Sitting

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Metallurgical and materials engineers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

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

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Standard safety equipment

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 21322), and a list of similar occupations:

  • ceramics engineer
  • corrosion engineer
  • electrometallurgical engineer
  • foundry engineer
  • hydrometallurgical engineer
  • materials engineer
  • metallurgical engineer
  • physical metallurgical engineer
  • pyrometallurgical engineer
  • welding engineer

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Metallurgical and materials engineers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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