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Materials Research Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

New York University

Research Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$85K - $150K/yr

Description Research Engineer NYU TANDON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Description : The Department of ... All application materials should be submitted electronically via Interfolio. Period of performance:

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$29.5K

$95.3K

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How much do materials research engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for materials research engineer in the United States is $95,315.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,000.00 and $109,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Materials Research Engineer do?

A Materials Research Engineer studies, develops, and tests materials to create new products or improve existing ones. They analyze the structure and properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and other materials to determine how they can be used in engineering applications. Their work often involves collaborating with scientists and other engineers to develop materials that meet specific mechanical, electrical, or chemical requirements for industries like aerospace, automotive, electronics, and manufacturing. Materials Research Engineers also play a key role in quality control and in ensuring materials are safe, durable, and cost-effective.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Materials Research Engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as a Materials Research Engineer, you need a solid background in materials science, chemistry, and engineering principles, often supported by at least a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field. Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation, materials characterization techniques (such as SEM, XRD, TEM), and modeling software like MATLAB or ANSYS is typically required. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and presenting research findings. These skills and qualifications are crucial for developing innovative materials solutions and advancing technology across various industries.

What are some common challenges Materials Research Engineers face when working on new product development?

Materials Research Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing innovative material properties with manufacturability and cost constraints. They must collaborate closely with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure that new materials meet performance requirements while remaining practical for large-scale production. Additionally, keeping up with rapid advancements in material science and integrating emerging technologies into existing processes can require continuous learning and adaptability. Effective communication and project management skills are key to overcoming these challenges and driving successful product development.

What is the difference between Materials Research Engineer vs Materials Scientist?

AspectMaterials Research EngineerMaterials Scientist
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Materials Science, Engineering, or related fieldBachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Materials Science or related discipline
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, R&D departmentsLaboratories, academic institutions, industry research centers
Industry UsageApplied research, product development, process improvementFundamental research, material characterization, scientific analysis

Materials Research Engineers focus on applying scientific principles to develop new materials and improve manufacturing processes, often working in industry settings. Materials Scientists typically conduct fundamental research to understand material properties, often within academic or research institutions. Both roles require strong technical skills and knowledge of materials, but their primary focus and work environments differ.

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Materials Research Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Materials Research Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 98% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,315 per year, or $45.8 per hour.
RESEARCH ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - Computational Materials Integrity

RESEARCH ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - Computational Materials Integrity

Southwest Research Institute - Fulltime

San Antonio, TX

$86K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Southwest Research Institute rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 21 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 56 rated research

Job description

Who We Are: We develop and apply advanced computational methods to assess the performance of a variety of engineering materials that are used in a wide range of systems with a particular focus on estimating the life and reliability of high-consequence engineering applications. We seek candidates skilled in analytical and numerical methods that support software development for fatigue crack growth and fracture of metallic materials under sustained and cyclic loading. Most relevant technical areas include damage tolerance, computational mechanics, and computational material science.

Objectives of this Role: Join our team to perform fundamental and applied research through the development of advanced fatigue crack growth for material and structural integrity assessments. Help manage our established software codebase and provide guidance on the technical solutions to solve problems related to practical fatigue crack growth, fracture, and structural integrity assessments. Work within a large team and a software operations framework to write integrate, compile, text and debug source code to support long-term, commercial software programs.

Apply principles in advanced continuum mechanics, numerical methods, materials science, and applied mathematics to solve unique problems using the modern Fortran programming language. Build and apply skills to support contract research programs, develop new technology areas, and interact with government and commercial clients. Daily and Monthly Responsibilities: Provide technical leadership toward the ongoing development and enhancement of fatigue crack growth software programs: NASGRO® and DARWIN®.

Coordinate accuracy, precision, and consistency test campaigns of predictions implemented within high-criticality commercial software. Drive the development of new practical methods to perform damage tolerance assessments. Champion innovations focused on reducing memory footprint, optimizing computational efficiency, and streamlining the analysis of large datasets.

Oversee the resolution of user-reported issues by identifying root causes and implement fixes in a timely manner. Interact with a larger development team to coordinate issue resolution within a large, interconnected, and legacy codebase. Collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and development teams to align the software’s documentation, usage, and evolution with industry demands.

Lead reports and papers on new technical solutions. Lead tasks and projects to completion, ensuring they are delivered within scope, budget, and schedule constraints. Drive improvement initiatives to optimize software development and execution.

Requirements: Requires a Masters or a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Structural Engineering, Computational Mechanics, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Geomechanics, or similar engineering degree. 1 year related work experience required with a Masters, 0 years required with a PhD. 0-5 years: Experience and/or training in fracture mechanics, fatigue crack growth assessment, continuum mechanics, materials science, applied mechanics, applied mathematics, and mechanical behavior of engineering metals.

0-5 years: Experience and/or training in software development processes for scientific computing, including version control, optimization, software verification, relevant programming languages, and programming assisted by ML/AI tools. 0-5 years: Experience in stress-intensity factor solutions, weight function methods, fatigue crack growth algorithms, time-dependent crack growth, small-crack growth mechanisms, threshold, shakedown, rainflow, environmental fatigue, and multi-point computational fracture mechanics. 0-5 years: Experience in customer issue resolution, supporting for legacy code and application programming interfaces, and using ML/AI tools to streamline software development, sustainment, documentation, and verification.

A valid/clear driver's license is required. Salary Range: $86,278 - $175,469

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