Lead Materials Engineer

Innova Search are proudly representing a UK engineering specialist who supply bespoke engineered products and solutions to some of the largest defence and manufacturing companies. The company have been operating for over 80 years and has over 400 staff.

The Role:

• Leading a multi-disciplined Metallurgy department, you will provide specialist technical engineering metallurgy support to the whole business ranging from material investigations, selection and specification advice, material testing and analysis, material verification, heat treatment verification and support.
• In the role, you will be responsible for the leadership of all technical activities within the metallurgy laboratory, and the daily management of activity in the department. The role will also provide verification and support to the onsite Heat Treatment facility in the daily inspection and operational activities.
• You will need to maintain a consistent standard of laboratory practices and material acceptance processes, in accordance with recognized national and internal standards.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and continually improve the metallurgy processes, systems, equipment, and facilities, including the maintenance of standards, procedures, processes, and SOPs in accordance with national standards, international standards, and customer requirements
• Provide daily leadership of all activity in the Metallurgy department, including overseeing a multi-functional team
• Co-ordinate, allocate and manage the workload including prioritising multiple work streams, processes, and projects
• Ensure communication of laboratory data and appropriate result reporting
• Review, monitor and trend the performance of the laboratory
• Review, monitor, track, and trend technical and employee performance, including maintaining staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, coaching, supporting, and training employees
• To work within the guidelines set out within the internal quality & health & safety procedures in office, laboratory, and engineering site environments
• Verification of raw material & bought out complete component certification, including interpretation of material certification (Supplied condition, surface preparation, Product & Ingot Chemical analysis, mechanical tests, heat treatment, Non-destructive testing, surface coating) in accordance with national standards, international standards, and customer requirements

Experience Required:

• Experience in all or some of the following - Metallurgy, Heat treatment, Material testing
• Recognised University Degree in mechanical engineering, Metallurgy, or equivalent. Industry Experience will also be considered
• Experience in management or leadership of a team in an engineering or laboratory environment
• Interpretation of material certification in line with national and international standards. (BS, BS EN, ISO, DIN, ASTM, DEF STAN)
• Knowledge of low alloy steel production including heat treatment (Forgings, Bar, Plate, Castings)
• Experience of hardening heat treatment of low alloy steel (Through, carburising, nitriding, induction, flame)
• Experience of producing, managing and investigating steel heat treatment processes and procedures to alter material properties and achieve right first-time products
• Experience in Metallography
• Experience in hardness testing, and hardness traverses
• Experience of material failure analysis and investigation
• Experience and in Non-destructive testing disciplines (Visual, MPI, DPI, UT, Radiography)

Personal Attributes:

• A leader, critical thinker, and problem solver
• Computer literate with use of Microsoft Office
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Tenacious and driven with a passion for results
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Able to work within cross functional teams and is not afraid to challenge

If you feel your experience is closely aligned the requirements, please click 'apply’ now.