Metallurgist

We are seeking a talented Metallurgist to join our team in supporting metallurgical quality, process optimization, and product development within our integrated steel foundry and forging operation. This hands-on role partners closely with Melt Shop, Forging, Heat Treat, Quality, and Engineering teams to ensure the production of high-quality forged steel products that meet customer and industry requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Metallurgical Process Support

• Provide metallurgical expertise to melting, casting, forging, and heat treatment operations.
• Monitor, analyze, and optimize critical process parameters including pour temperatures, alloy chemistry, forging reduction ratios, heat treatment cycles, and quench methods.
• Evaluate and approve charge materials and recommend alloy chemistry adjustments to ensure product quality and consistency.
• Support the development and optimization of forging practices, deformation schedules, and grain flow characteristics to maximize mechanical performance.
• Collaborate with production teams to improve process capability, throughput, and operational efficiency.

Quality & Metallurgical Analysis

• Perform metallographic examinations including grain size analysis, inclusion evaluation, phase identification, and decarburization assessment.
• Conduct and interpret mechanical testing, including tensile, hardness, impact, fatigue, and other material property evaluations.
• Verify compliance with ASTM, AMS, ASME, customer, and internal quality specifications.
• Review, evaluate, and disposition nonconforming materials while providing technical recommendations for corrective action.
• Maintain metallurgical documentation and quality records in accordance with company and regulatory standards.

Failure Analysis & Root Cause Investigation

• Lead or support investigations into metallurgical defects and manufacturing issues, including:
• Hot tears and quench cracking
• Inclusion-related defects
• Segregation and porosity
• Heat treatment distortion
• Mechanical property deviations
• Perform fracture analysis using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), when available.
• Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions in collaboration with operations and quality teams.

Continuous Improvement & Product Development

• Drive initiatives focused on improving yield, reducing scrap, increasing productivity, and lowering manufacturing costs.
• Support qualification and commercialization of new steel grades, alloys, and forging processes.
• Assist with supplier quality evaluations and raw material qualification.
• Utilize Statistical Process Control (SPC), Six Sigma methodologies, and data-driven analysis to improve process consistency and product quality.
• Participate in new product introduction and customer qualification programs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to resolve technical issues and improve manufacturing performance.
• Develop technical reports, metallurgical procedures, work instructions, and process documentation.
• Interface with customers regarding metallurgical performance, technical requirements, and product quality concerns.
• Support customer audits and technical reviews as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related engineering discipline.
• 3 years of metallurgical experience
• Ferrous metallurgy, including carbon, alloy, and stainless steels
• Heat treatment processes including quench and temper, annealing, and normalizing
• Forging and deformation processing fundamentals
• Experience performing metallographic preparation and microstructural analysis.
• Knowledge of mechanical testing methods and interpretation of test results.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple departments.
• Ability to work safely and effectively in a heavy industrial manufacturing environment.