Laboratory Engineer – Materials Characterisation & R&D

Ovako Group; Hofors kommun; On-site; SEK 441,354 - 606,862; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Opportunities for personal and professional development

Work in a sustainability-focused environment

Job summary

Ovako Group in Hofors is seeking a Laboratory Engineer to take ownership of materials characterisation. The role includes hands-on lab work and collaboration with R&D teams to develop innovative solutions for specialty steel.

The ideal candidate will have a degree in Materials Engineering, strong laboratory experience, and a commitment to continuous improvement and sustainability practices.

Qualifications

• At least three years of practical laboratory experience.
• Experience in developing and validating test methods.
• Good command of English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Operating laboratory equipment for reliability.
• Conducting materials characterisation and testing.
• Developing and documenting test methods.

Skills

Materials engineering

Metallurgy

Laboratory experience

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering or related field

Tools

Optical microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Job description

Our employee journey

At Ovako, we believe that work is more than just a job – it's an opportunity to be part of something meaningful. We foster an open and friendly atmosphere where everyone is valued, providing opportunities for personal and professional development. Many of us find fulfillment in knowing that our work contributes to making the world a better place.

As a Nordic-based global leader in sustainable steel, Ovako is not just a workplace, it's a community shaping a better future. While some may call us humble, the truth is, we recognize that real change starts with us. Join us on this transformative journey, where the beauty of nature is just around the corner. Be a catalyst for positive change at Ovako.

"We are looking for a Laboratory Engineer who thrives on understanding why materials behave the way they do. Someone who enjoys getting hands‑on in the lab, developing methods, solving technical challenges and turning microstructural observations into insights that support innovation, production and customer success. This is an opportunity to take ownership of a laboratory that is central to our future development and help unlock its full potential."

– Tania Loaiza, R&D Manager

Help shape the future of specialty steel

At Ovako, we combine more than 300 years of industrial expertise with modern technology and a strong commitment to sustainability. As a leading European producer of specialty steel, we continuously develop products and processes that meet future demands for performance, quality and reduced climate impact.

Research and development play a vital role in this journey. Through advanced materials characterisation, testing and metallurgical expertise, we generate knowledge that strengthens both our products and manufacturing processes.

We are now looking for a Laboratory Engineer who wants to build deep expertise in materials characterisation while helping shape the future of specialty steel. This is a role for someone who enjoys combining practical laboratory work with advanced technical analysis and is motivated by creating long-term value through scientific knowledge and continuous improvement.

"You will not only use the laboratory – you will help shape how it evolves. As our technical focal point for materials characterisation and testing, you will work closely with researchers, production teams and customers while enjoying significant freedom to develop methods, strengthen our capabilities and build expertise over time."

About the role

As a Laboratory Engineer within Ovako’s R&D organisation, you will take dedicated ownership of our materials laboratory and play a key role in ensuring it delivers maximum value to the business.

Acting as the technical focal point for materials characterisation, testing and failure analysis, you will collaborate closely with researchers, production teams, customers and external partners. The role combines hands‑on laboratory work with technical analysis, method development and continuous improvement, giving you considerable freedom to plan, prioritise and drive your own work.

Your work will contribute directly to R&D projects, production‑related investigations and customer assignments, generating knowledge that supports both today’s operations and tomorrow’s product development.

Your responsibilities include:

• Operating, maintaining and calibrating laboratory equipment to ensure high reliability and readiness
• Performing materials characterisation and testing of steels and other metallic materials
• Preparing metallographic samples, conducting optical microscopy and performing image analysis
• Working with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and hardness testing
• Conducting failure analysis and root cause investigations
• Developing, validating and documenting test methods to ensure reproducibility and traceability
• Explaining technical findings clearly to internal stakeholders and international customers
• Support university collaboration, including supervision of students
• Contributing to a deeper understanding of structure–property relationships in steels
• Identifying opportunities to further develop laboratory methods, analytical capabilities and ways of working

Your profile

We are looking for a proactive and hands‑on engineer with genuine technical depth and a passion for materials engineering.

You enjoy combining careful experimentation with practical problem‑solving and take pride in producing reliable results that others can build upon. You work independently, identify what needs to be done and drive activities forward with confidence. At the same time, you enjoy collaborating with researchers, production specialists and customers, translating complex technical findings into valuable insights.

To succeed in this role, we believe you have:

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Materials Engineering, Metallurgy or a related field
• At least three years of practical laboratory experience
• Experience in developing and validating test methods
• Experience in equipment maintenance, calibration and laboratory operation
• Strong metallography knowledge, including sectioning, mounting, polishing, etching and quantitative analysis such as grain size and retained austenite measurements
• Hands‑on experience with optical microscopy, image analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain technical results to different audiences
• Good command of English, both written and spoken

Meritorious experience

It is considered an advantage if you also have experience or interest in:

• Fatigue testing: rotating bending fatigue, rolling contact fatigue
• Non metallic inclusion investigation
• Heat‑treatment fundamentals, including laboratory furnaces, quench and temper processes
• Alloy development and new steel grades
• Understanding how composition and processing influence material properties

Who are you?

We believe you are the kind of engineer who naturally takes ownership and enjoys building deep technical expertise over time.

You are curious and analytical, motivated by understanding how materials, processes and microstructures interact to influence performance. While you enjoy working hands‑on in the laboratory, you also appreciate the bigger picture and understand how robust methods, reliable data and technical knowledge create long-term value for the business.

We believe you are:

• Proactive and self‑driven
• Analytical, structured and quality‑conscious
• Hands‑on with a practical approach to problem‑solving
• Communicative, collaborative and able to build strong relationships
• Motivated by continuous improvement and long‑term technical development

Why Ovako?

At Ovako, you will work at the forefront of materials engineering within an international industrial group where research, innovation and sustainability go hand in hand.

As part of our R&D organisation, you will work alongside highly skilled colleagues using advanced analytical equipment to solve challenging metallurgical questions. The knowledge you generate will contribute directly to product development, production support, customer solutions and the future of sustainable steel manufacturing.

This is more than a laboratory role. It is an opportunity to shape the future of our materials characterisation capabilities while building specialist knowledge in an environment where curiosity, independence and long‑term thinking are genuinely valued.

Location:

Hofors, Sweden, on site.