Careers

A large and growing shortage of materials professionals exists in industry and universities today. Materials Science and Engineering graduates from the department have found excellent opportunities across a broad range of careers, in industry, consulting, national labs, and academia. Examples of these include large scale manufacturing (Boeing), electronics industries (Intel), materials processing (ALCOA), a diverse group of small companies (Interpoint, ATL, K2), industrial and national research labs (PNNL, NASA, Los Alamos), and other academic institutions.

Materials engineers and scientists, whether generalists or specialists in a particular class of material, are in demand by industry and government for jobs in research, development, production, and management. Many of our graduates go on to graduate school and more intensive study in materials, though the job market is also strong for Bachelor's degree graduates. Materials science and engineering also provides a natural preparation for further education and careers in medicine, law, and business. Employment opportunities and prospects have been very healthy, and one hundred percent of our graduates have successfully found employment in a variety of companies involved in manufacturing and technical service.