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Graduate Materials Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Bachelor's in metallurgical engineering or materials science degree required * 5+ years working with metals and materials characterization (graduate research counts). * Strong background in material ...

Bachelor's in metallurgical engineering or materials science degree required * 5+ years working with metals and materials characterization (graduate research counts). * Strong background in material ...

Creates, updates, and maintains numerous reference materials, standards, manuals, and brochures ... However, it is expected that the Graduate Engineer will provide guidance as a team member to ...

Graduate Engineer

Rowlett, TX · On-site

$57K - $64K/yr

Creates, updates, and maintains numerous reference materials, standards, manuals, and brochures ... However, it is expected that the Graduate Engineer will provide guidance as a team member to ...

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Graduate Materials Engineer information

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$40.5K

$92.6K

$118.5K

How much do graduate materials engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate materials engineer in the United States is $92,639.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,000.00 and $102,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High-level positions often require advanced degrees, certifications, and a track record of significant project management or innovation.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

While most graduate materials engineers earn significantly less, some senior or specialized engineers in high-demand industries, such as aerospace or oil and gas, can reach or exceed $500,000 annually with experience, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires advanced skills, extensive experience, and often leadership roles or consulting positions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Graduate Materials Engineer position, and why are they important?

A Graduate Materials Engineer typically needs a degree in materials science, engineering, or a related discipline, coupled with strong analytical, problem-solving, and laboratory skills. Familiarity with characterization tools such as scanning electron microscopes (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and CAD software is highly advantageous. Excellent communication, teamwork, and project management skills help graduates thrive in multidisciplinary engineering environments. These combined skills are critical to effectively investigate and improve material properties, contribute to innovative projects, and support organizational goals.

Is 40 too late to be an engineer?

Graduate Materials Engineers can enter the field at any age, as engineering careers often value skills, experience, and continuous learning over age. Many engineers start or transition into the profession later in life, and acquiring relevant certifications or degrees can facilitate entry regardless of age.

What is a Graduate Materials Engineer job?

A Graduate Materials Engineer is an entry-level role where you apply your knowledge of materials science to develop, test, and improve materials used in various industries. You may work with metals, polymers, ceramics, or composites to enhance product performance and durability. Typical responsibilities include conducting research, analyzing material properties, assisting in manufacturing processes, and ensuring quality control. This role provides hands-on experience and technical training, helping you develop expertise in material selection and failure analysis. It often serves as a foundation for career growth in engineering, research, or product development.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Graduate Materials Engineer?

As a Graduate Materials Engineer, you can expect to spend your days conducting laboratory tests, analyzing material performance, preparing reports, and assisting with research and development projects. You will often collaborate with senior engineers, production teams, and quality control staff to troubleshoot issues or optimize materials for specific applications. Your role may also involve reviewing technical documentation, maintaining testing equipment, and participating in team meetings to discuss project progress. This hands-on, collaborative environment provides valuable experience and fosters growth in both technical and professional skills.

What can I do with a materials engineering degree?

A graduate materials engineer can work in industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, and manufacturing, focusing on developing, testing, and improving materials like metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites. They often analyze material properties, use tools like microscopy and spectroscopy, and may pursue certifications or advanced training to specialize in areas like corrosion, failure analysis, or quality control.
More about Graduate Materials Engineer jobs
What states have the most Graduate Materials Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Graduate Materials Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Graduate Materials Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,639 per year, or $44.5 per hour.
INTERDISCIPLINARY (CHEMIST/MATERIALS ENGINEER)

INTERDISCIPLINARY (CHEMIST/MATERIALS ENGINEER)

US Department of the Navy

Cherry Point, NC • On-site

$106K/yr

Other

Posted 9 days ago


United States Navy rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 371 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

38th of 46 rated military and defense


Job description

You will serve as a INTERDISCIPLINARY (CHEMIST/MATERIALS ENGINEER) in the MRO Engineering Department/Depot Support Team of FLTREADCEN EAST.Qualifications:In addition to the Basic Requirements for this position, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Having expertise in Fleet Support Team (FST) and/or MRO Engineering; 2) Developing program sustainment and acquisition engineering support; 3) Managing technical and professional services required to sustain a weapon system; 4) Evaluating new approaches, guides and standards to make engineering decisions.
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series AND https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.Education:Applicants must meet the following positive education qualifications requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual: Applicants must possess
FOR THE 0806 SERIES:
Successful completion of a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: http://www.nspe.org
OR
Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/HowtoGetLicensed/index.html.
OR
Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A (above). The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A (above).
OR
Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least one year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily, there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.
FOR THE 1320 SERIES:
Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.Employment Type: OTHER

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Industry

National security, national security and international affairs, public safety statistics centers and offices, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Washington, DC, US

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