A professional who evaluates technical and economic factors, recommending engineering and manufacturing actions for attainment of design objectives of process or product by applying knowledge of material science and related technologies. Responsibilities include:

• Reviews plans for new product and factors, such as strength, weight, and cost to submit material selection recommendations ensuring attainment of design objectives.
• Plans and implements laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures for new materials to fulfill product cost and performance standards.
• Confers with producers of materials, such as metals, ceramics, or polymers, during investigation and evaluation of materials suitable for specific product applications.
• Reviews product failure data and interprets laboratory tests and analyses to establish or rule out material and process causes.