Materials engineer : Employers and vacancy sources

Materials engineering is so broad that positions are available across many manufacturing and industrial sectors. For example, materials engineers are employed by companies that carry out metal processing and by those that manufacture products using ceramics, glass, plastics, rubber, carbon fibre and electronics equipment.

Employers range from global corporations producing planes, trains and automobiles to producers of energy-efficient materials for construction, to small specialist research laboratories.

Employers recruiting materials engineers include those working in:

• the power industry - for example, oil and gas companies;
• telecommunications - developing glass fibre optics to enhance technologies such as broadband;
• sports equipment - designing and developing materials such as carbon fibre and plastics to produce tougher, lighter equipment or performance textiles;
• biomedical engineering - developing materials for components such as heart pace makers or materials for replacement joints, such as knees and hips.

Opportunities arise throughout the UK and are as likely to occur on a small business or science park as in a major industrial centre. The pattern of vacancies does vary but, at present, materials science is a buoyant sector for opportunities.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)  
• The Engineer  
• The Engineering Job  
• New Scientist Jobs  
• The Science Job  
• UK Engineering Recruitment  
• Careers service vacancy lists.
• National press.

Specialist recruitment agencies, such as Materials Edge  and Matchtech , may handle some vacancies, but these are more often for experienced chartered or incorporated engineers.

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