Associate Materials Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

What Makes Stress Engineering Services a Magnet for World-Class Metallurgists

At Stress Engineering Services, metallurgists get access to the kind of work most engineers only read about in case studies or journal papers. SES is where the highest stakes, highest temperature, highest consequence materials problems actually get solved in the real world — not in theory.

Our team is routinely engaged to tackle extreme metals challenges including creep and remaining life assessments in refinery environments exceeding 1,000°F, HTHA investigations where materials performance directly impacts human safety and capital risk, aerospace high-temperature alloy behavior under thermal cycling, additive manufacturing component integrity validation, and breakthrough metals research supporting emerging energy platforms such as carbon capture and hydrogen systems. These are the kinds of projects where metallurgy is not just analytical — it is decisive. Decisions made here drive investment strategy, prevent catastrophic failures, protect people, and change industry practice.

If you are a metallurgist who wants to be in the arena where science, engineering, and consequence intersect — Stress Engineering Services is one of the rare places where you can do the most challenging and exciting technical work of your career.

About Stress Engineering Services

Stress Engineering Services (SES) is a highly specialized, technical consulting firm recognized globally for solving the hardest problems in industry. For over 50 years, we have been trusted by clients across energy, petrochemical, industrial, consumer, power generation, aerospace, and medical sectors to solve failure, integrity, reliability, and materials challenges that require both scientific rigor and practical engineering judgment.

SES Core Values

We Over Me – We put the mission, our clients, and our team above individual agendas.
Unyielding Pursuit of Excellence – Excellence is our standard. We deliver the right solution on time, every time.
Own It – We take accountability—personally and collectively—to deliver results and build trust.

Metallurgical Engineer – Staff Consultant

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Metallurgical Engineer – Staff Consultant in Houston, Texas to support and lead complex metallurgical consulting engagements involving failure analysis, creep testing, materials degradation, welding, codes & standards, remaining life assessments, and asset integrity work across multiple industries. The successful engineer will serve as a technical expert with high client exposure and long-term opportunity to expand and grow a consulting practice.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead and perform failure analysis work across petrochemical, industrial, consumer, and medical sectors
• Conduct creep testing and remaining life assessments
• Provide technical expertise in metallurgy, fabrication, welding, inspection methods, corrosion, material selection, and integrity practices
• Prepare and defend high-impact technical reports, proposals, presentations, and papers
• Work collaboratively with interdisciplinary engineering specialists
• Mentor early career engineers and grow technical depth within the practice
• Support and/or participate in conferences, committees, and industry standards development

Candidate Profile / Requirements

• MS or PhD in Metallurgical / Materials Engineering (ferrous emphasis preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in metallurgical engineering supporting energy, petrochemical, industrial, power, or aerospace sectors
• Prior consulting experience strongly preferred
• Knowledge of API 6A, API 5L, NACE MR0175, ASME BPVC VIII/IX, ASME B31, ASME FFS-1/API 579
• Strong communication skills — written, verbal, presentation, and technical defensibility
• Experience with renewable energy material behavior (CCS, hydrogen) and/or additive manufacturing a plus
• Expert witness experience a plus
• PE license or ability to obtain
• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident required
• Willingness to travel to refineries, plants, offshore, and industrial customer sites

Overview

Every day, we get the opportunity to make a positive impact on our customers, colleagues, and partners by solving some of the toughest technical problems in industry. Since 1972, we have provided innovative solutions to companies across a wide range of industries requiring deep technical expertise in engineering design and analysis, thermal and fluid sciences, and instrumentation and testing.

As we continue to push forward, we remain focused on delivering innovative concepts with the highest standards of service, grounded in a culture of trust and excellence to provide meaningful value to those we serve.

About the Role

We are currently seeking an Engineering Consultant (Metallurgical Engineer) to join our Materials Engineering team. As a key member of this dynamic group, you’ll dive into compelling failure analyses across industries—from petrochemical to medical devices—lead cutting-edge creep testing and remaining life assessments, and deliver expert metallurgical and welding consulting that helps clients solve critical challenges.

This role offers the chance to work directly with clients, solve high-stakes engineering problems, and shape the future of industrial reliability and safety. Hands-on involvement with materials selection, welding, inspection, and degradation analysis will allow you to directly influence the integrity, reliability, efficiency, and safety of industrial systems. You’ll collaborate with top-tier professionals, mentor rising engineers, and contribute to industry standards and conferences.

Why Join SES

• High autonomy and high-consequence technical work
• Ability to directly impact real-world safety and performance
• Work with world-recognized subject matter experts
• Supportive, entrepreneurial, employee-owned culture
• Career pathway to build your own consulting portfolio within SES

Employment Eligibility & Culture

At SES, we take pride in fostering an inclusive and dynamic workplace that values diverse perspectives and experiences. This position requires legal authorization to work in the U.S. Candidates must be able to provide documentation verifying identity and employment eligibility through the I-9 process.

What’s In It for You

We offer a challenging position where curiosity is not only welcomed but celebrated. As we continue to evolve, your work will have a true impact on Stress Engineering Services’ future success. We are an employee-owned firm, and benefit-eligible employees enjoy healthcare, dental and vision plans, paid time off, paid holidays, and more. Compensation is determined by market indicators and tailored to reflect your unique skills, experience, and background.

Stress Engineering Services, Inc. (SES) is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.

Recruitment Process Disclosure
As part of your candidacy and potential future employment, you agree to maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, sensitive, and client-related information obtained through interactions with SES. This obligation applies during and after your engagement.

As part of our hiring process, Stress Engineering Services may use technology tools, including automated tools, to help organize, review, or evaluate application materials and interview-related information. These tools are used to support our recruiting process, but hiring decisions are not made solely by technology. If you need would like to request a reasonable accommodation or would like additional information about the process, please contact Human.Resources@Stress.com. Where applicable required by law, we will provide additional notices if a specific tool analyzes interview responses, assessments, or other information as part of your evaluation.

No Agency Solicitation: Stress Engineering Services is managing this search directly. We kindly ask that staffing agencies, recruiting firms, and executive search firms do not contact us regarding this position or submit candidate resumes. Any unsolicited resumes submitted without a valid written agreement may become the property of Stress Engineering Services, and no placement fee will be paid.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Stress Engineering Services, Inc. (SES) is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.