• Materials Engineer

    Actalent (Caledonia, MI)


    Job Description

    Research and Development Engineer focused on material research, material selection, and analysis of products, data and process requirements to implement innovative new products, and ensure sustained on-going production of sprinkler, valve and special hazards product lines.

     

    This engineer will research materials, go out there on plant floor understanding what is being done & what are they trying to do, go back and do research and analysis on the materials using and report to team on best way to move forward.

    Responsibilities

    + Provide technical guidance to R&D team on material selection for innovative, new, and current products.

    + Define and implement improvements to key special processes, including coatings, chemical processing and soldering.

    + Conduct research and development projects on advanced materials and coatings

    + Assess material selection and intended function throughout the process to ensure optimal function of the product and process.

    + Aid in the development of design criteria for components.

    + Update and create material specifications as needed.

    + Coordinate with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality to define product requirements on engineering drawings to ensure sustainable production.

    + Work with Strategic Purchasing and Quality to review and evaluate material changes impacting current and new products.

    + Develop product validation criteria to ensure conformance.

    + Conduct internal failure analysis and/or coordinate with external testing laboratories to facilitate material analysis.

    + Generate written reports and document findings associated with material analysis and testing. Present findings to stakeholders.

    + Identify and obtain appropriate equipment for R & D use for material analysis and product testing.

    + Provide input on materials and processing of materials to Manufacturing Engineering and Quality to aid in defining production equipment specifications.

    + Work with multi-functional team to achieve program targets relating material performance, quality and cost.

    + Liaise with suppliers, customers and cross-functional development teams.

    + Stay up to date with the latest advancements in materials science and technology.

    Example of a Past Project:

    Phase 1 of the project will be spent cleaning up manual machine processes and create product requirements. Start by understanding what process needs to look like in order to increase solderability and form product requirements from there. Create solutions for chemical processing lines to improve solderability of soldered element assemblies. Phase 1 needs to be done in order to prepare for Phase 2 which will include the creation of automated lines that will be responsible for supporting on-going production of soldered elements of fire protection sprinklers.

     

    Must Have Qualifications

     

    + Bachelor of Science in Materials Science Engineering or Metallurgical Engineering

    + Minimum 5-7 years of applied experience in metallurgy and/or material science

    + Experience working in manufacturing plant environment

    + Experience leading part failure analysis activity

    + Familiarity with materials simulation and modeling tools

    Work Environment

    Standard 8-5 hours. 25% of the time will be spent on the floor, with some travel to Hastings plant. Will be reporting to the current production engineering team.

    Pay and Benefits

    The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $52.88/hr.

     

    Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

     

    • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

     

    Workplace Type

     

    This is a fully onsite position in Caledonia,MI.

     

    Application Deadline

     

    This position is anticipated to close on Jun 13, 2025.

    About Actalent

    Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

     

    The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

     

    If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing due to a disability, please email [email protected] (%[email protected]) for other accommodation options.