Senior Materials & Process Engineer - Powder Metallurgy
- Location
- Research Triangle Park, NC · On-site
- Job type
- Full-time
- Level
- Director
- Experience
- 8+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Listed
- 30 days ago
Skills & highlights for this role
- U.S. person status (export control)
- powder metallurgy processing
- vacuum sintering
- SEM
- XRD
- design of experiments
Also useful
- TGA/DSC
- Python
- MATLAB
- JMP
- ISO 9001
Responsibilities
- Own and optimize the powder metallurgy pipeline, including hydrogen decrepitation, jet milling, pressing and compaction, vacuum sintering, and post-sinter heat treatments.
- Correlate process variables to magnetic properties, microstructure, and part quality.
- Lead root-cause failure analyses for sample defects and implement corrective actions.
- Transition new alloy compositions from pilot scale to robust, high-volume production.
- Define technical specifications and partner with Manufacturing team for selection and commissioning of next-generation manufacturing equipment.
Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 8+ years of hands-on engineering experience in powder metallurgy processing (industrial manufacturing setting preferred).
- Experience with reactive metal powder processing, protective inert atmospheres, vacuum thermal processing, and advanced sintering kinetics.
- Experience with materials characterization and analytical techniques such as SEM, XRD, TGA/DSC
- Strong experience in design of experiments, statistical processing, and leading research efforts
Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience in the manufacturing of sintered NdFeB permanent magnets and grain boundary diffusion processes.
- Strong proficiency in evaluating magnetic materials properties and interpreting microstructural data.
- Experience utilizing data analysis tools (such as Python, MATLAB, or JMP) to analyze manufacturing quality datasets or automate performance mapping.
- Familiarity with ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 quality management standards.
Physical and Environmental Requirements
The position requires regular presence on the production floor and the ability to navigate all areas of the facility. Candidates must be able to climb stairs, stand and walk for extended periods, and work in environments that may be hot, humid, or noisy. The role also requires the use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, and adherence to all applicable safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Employees must be able to complete required fit testing, wear appropriate PPE for the duration of assigned tasks, and respond safely to changing conditions within the production environment.
About Vulcan Elements
Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency.
As a Senior/Staff Materials and Process Engineer, you will serve as the technical lead for the end-to-end powder metallurgy manufacturing process-spanning powder processing, advanced compaction, and thermal treatment. You will be responsible for optimizing current production lines, scaling new NdFeB magnet formulations, and troubleshooting complex materials anomalies.
This role bridges the gap between R&D and high-volume production, ensuring maximum magnetic performance, microstructural integrity, and manufacturing yield. This is a high-impact, high-ownership role requiring deep technical expertise and leadership.
From Vulcan Elements's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
How Rolev.ai helps with this application
Rolev.ai is a job search and application tool for US job seekers. For this Senior Materials & Process Engineer - Powder Metallurgy role at Vulcan Elements, it shows how your resume fits, tailors your resume to the posting, and prepares the application for you to review.
See how you fit
Openings from employer career sites are ranked against your whole resume—and searchable inside Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor via Rolev.ai MCP.
Tailor without inventing
Every change to your resume is checked against your original. New experience goes in only with your yes—zero fabricated claims.
Draft the full kit
Tailored and Full Match resumes, role-specific cover letters, and answers to employer screening questions are prepared in seconds.
1-Click Extension Autofill
The Chrome extension fills the employer's Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, or Ashby form in 1 click. You review it and press Submit.
Similar roles
- Engineer Material ProcessNgc · United States-California-Sunnyvale · $83.4k – $125k/yr
- Senior Materials EngineerCopeland · Sidney, OH
- Materials Engineer, Moderator MaterialsRadiant · El Segundo, CA
- Supplier Reliability Engineer - Metallic Materials & ProcessesVast · Long Beach, CA
- Metallurgist / Materials Engineer - Joining and Thermal ProcessingLLNL · Livermore, CA
- Product Development Engineer PrincipalAmcor · AF Neenah Innovation Center, WI
Common questions
Where is the Senior Materials & Process Engineer - Powder Metallurgy job at Vulcan Elements located?
This Senior Materials & Process Engineer - Powder Metallurgy position at Vulcan Elements is located in Research Triangle Park, NC (On-site). Always check Vulcan Elements's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
What qualifications are required for Senior Materials & Process Engineer - Powder Metallurgy at Vulcan Elements?
For the Senior Materials & Process Engineer - Powder Metallurgy role, Vulcan Elements highlights 8+ years of relevant experience; a bachelor's degree; experience with powder metallurgy processing, vacuum sintering, SEM, XRD, design of experiments. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.
How do I apply for the Senior Materials & Process Engineer - Powder Metallurgy position at Vulcan Elements?
This listing links directly to Vulcan Elements's Greenhouse application page. You can apply directly on Vulcan Elements's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Greenhouse application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.