Contract Metallographer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job description:

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Plant Metallurgist to join our team. The ideal candidate that will serve as the technical authority and final approver for metallic materials used in regulated, aerospace, and defense applications. This role owns material qualification, metallurgical evaluation, testing oversight, failure analysis, and technical disposition of material-related issues throughout the product lifecycle.

The position directly supports government and defense contracts and requires strict compliance with DFARS, ITAR, CUI handling requirements, ISO 9001, customer specifications, contractual flow-downs. The metallurgist has stop-ship and stop-release authority for material nonconformities and technical risk.

Responsibilities

• Material Qualification, Control and Release (primary ownership)
• Execute initial material qualification for new and recurring materials.
• Establish and maintain material qualification records, including Heat and lot certifications; Mechanical and chemical test reports; Stress-strain curves, micrographs, and images; and Sample qualification data and customer specific artifacts.
• Perform technical acceptance review of material test reports to verify Compliance with customer, industry, and government specifications; Data integrity, consistency, and expected metallurgical behavior; Proper identification of heat, lot, size, test location, and method; Investigate test anomalies and deviations and coordinate corrective actions with laboratories and internal stakeholders; Enter approved qualification data into production, ERP and quality systems; Issue blanket/sample certifications (HPA/LMA/SPX or equivalent as first-qualification artifacts; Exercise technical authority to release or reject material for production processing.
• Serve as primary technical point of contact for external testing laboratories.
• Define and approve non-standard, developmental, or customer-specific testing methods.
• Review and approve test quotations and test purchase orders for technical accuracy.
• Ensure testing scope, locations, and acceptance criteria are explicit and contract compliant.
• Track, retain, and disposition test samples in accordance with quality and record-retention requirements.
• Perform technical review of customer purchase orders and contracts for material-related requirements.
• Verify heat/lot traceability, testing scope, and specification alignment.
• Review customer quality clauses, DFARS flow-downs, and DPAS ratings when applicable.
• Identify required waivers, deviations, concessions, or customer approvals.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable ASTM, AMS, MIL, and customer specifications and monitor revisions.
• Evaluate material performance, degradation, and suitability for intended use.
• Modify alloy properties using thermal, mechanical, and processing controls.
• Support material selection trade studies considering performance, manufacturability, and cost.
• Conduct failure analysis and root-cause investigations including: Microstructural evaluation; Mechanical property validation; Certification and process conformance review; Provide technical disposition recommendations (use-as-is, rework, retest, scrap); Support nonconformance investigations, CAPA activities and customer responses.
• Research metallurgical behavior, process optimization, and industry best practices.
• Evaluate new alloys and underutilized materials compatible with company capabilities.
• Perform data analysis using statistical, analytical or modeling tools.
• Author technical reports, white papers, and internal reference guidance.
• Support continuous improvement and manufacturing optimization initiatives.
• Provide technical training to quality, production, purchasing and engineering personnel.
• Serve as back-up for: Material Certification records, Certificate of Conformances, Final technical review when designated personnel are unavailable, and Support customer technical inquiries and audit responses as required.
• Ensure compliance with DFARS, ITAR, CUI handling, and government contract requirements.
• Maintain material traceability and data integrity throughout the lifecycle.
• Support ISO 9001, customer and government audits, including corrective actions.
• Identify, assess and escalate material-related technical risk.

Skills

• Advanced metallurgical and materials engineering expertise.
• Complex problem-solving and failure analysis capability.
• Strong technical judgment and decision-making authority.
• Exceptional documentation accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate complex technical issues clearly.
• Ability to operate independently in high-accountability environments.

Technology & Tools

• Statistical and analytical software (e.g., Minitab, MATLAB)
• CAD/CAM and material modeling tools
• Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• SharePoint or controlled document systems
• ERP and quality management systems

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgy, Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or related-field (required)
• Advanced degree preferred
• 5+ years of experience in metallurgical engineering, materials qualification, or quality engineering
• Experience in regulated, defense, aerospace, or government contract environments strongly preferred

Supervisory Responsibilities

No direct reports unless assigned

Provides technical authority, mentoring, and training across functions

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Office, laboratory, and industrial manufacturing environments

Frequent sitting, occasional standing, walking and reaching

Vision requirements include close, distance, color vision and focus adjustment

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Relocation assistance
• Vision insurance