Materials Engineer

Pay Range:

The actual annual salary offered to a candidate will be based on variables including experience, geographic location, education, and skills/achievements, and will be mutually agreed upon at the time of offer.

As we continue to invest in and expand our steel case manufacturing capabilities, we are seeking a Materials Engineer with experience in steel metallurgy and material processing. This role will partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations to improve material performance, optimize manufacturing processes, and reduce defects across our operations.

This position reports to the Manager of Manufacturing Engineering and is based in Anoka, Minnesota.

What you’ll do:

• Provide technical support related to steel metallurgy, material performance, heat treatment, and manufacturing processes.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations to improve product quality, process capability, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Support investigations into material-related issues, including cracking, hardness variation, microstructural inconsistencies, and product performance concerns.
• Analyze metallurgical and mechanical testing data to identify root causes and recommend corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain material specifications, testing procedures, and best practices to improve quality and consistency.
• Support qualification and validation of raw materials, suppliers, and alternative material solutions.
• Contribute to manufacturing improvement initiatives, new process development, and capital projects involving steel processing and heat treatment.
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging materials, and manufacturing technologies.
• Share metallurgical knowledge and best practices across engineering and operational teams.

Experience you bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field.
• 1+ years of experience in materials engineering, metallurgy, manufacturing engineering, or a related industrial environment.
• Knowledge of steel metallurgy, heat treatment processes, microstructure-property relationships, and material characterization techniques.
• Experience participating in failure analysis, root cause investigations, or metallurgical testing activities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with engineering, operations, quality, suppliers, and external laboratories.

You might also bring:

• Experience with supplier qualification, material validation, and specification development.
• Experience leading complex failure investigations and corrective action initiatives.
• Knowledge of advanced steels, boron steels, or other high-performance alloy systems.
• Background in ammunition, firearms, automotive, aerospace, heavy equipment, or other high-volume manufacturing environments.

Work Environment:

Employee work assignments may include tasks working with and/or exposure to potentially hazardous areas, including flammables and explosives. Safety training is provided to all employees to ensure compliance with company and federal regulations.

Benefits:

At The Kinetic Group, we believe the people who build great products deserve great support. That's why we offer day-one healthcare coverage, company-paid parental leave, a dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match up to 6%, career development opportunities, education assistance, and paid time away from work to help you thrive both professionally and personally.