Senior R&D Engineer – Alloy Design and Materials Performance

Ovako Group; Hofors kommun; Hybrid; SEK 700,000 - 950,000; Full time

Job summary

Ovako Sweden AB in Hofors, Sweden, seeks a Senior R&D Engineer with expertise in alloy design and materials performance to strengthen its R&D organization. You will drive research activities at the intersection of metallurgy, alloy design and material performance.

The role includes about 60% of time on customer projects, applying computational modelling and experimental work, and collaboration with universities, research institutes and external partners across Europe.

Qualifications

• PhD in metallurgy or materials science with a strong focus on steels.
• At least three years of research experience after PhD.
• Expertise in steel alloy design, including hands-on experience with Thermo-Calc.
• Excellent English communication skills to explain complex findings to varied audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop new steel grades and alloy concepts from composition to processing route.
• Computational alloy design using Thermo-Calc and related tools.
• Plan and evaluate corrosion testing data and hydrogen embrittlement investigations.
• Drive nationally and internationally funded research projects and consortia.
• Collaborate with universities and institutes, including supervision of students.
• Support sales and customers with qualified answers on material behaviour and selection.
• Identify new research directions that strengthen Ovako’s product portfolio and long-term competitiveness.

Skills

English communication

Steel alloy design

Metallurgy expertise

Education

PhD in metallurgy or materials science

Tools

Thermo-Calc

Material modelling

Job description

Senior R&D Engineer – Alloy Design and Materials Performance

Advancing specialty steel through research and innovation

”Curiosity and innovation are at the heart of how we develop at Ovako. We are looking for a driven and curious researcher who enjoys going beyond the expected, exploring new ideas and challenging established thinking. We believe the best results come from working together, sharing knowledge and learning from each other, so the ability to collaborate and contribute to a team is an important part of this role.”

– Hiring manager

From metallurgical research to real-world applications

Developing specialty steel for demanding applications requires a deep understanding of materials, a curiosity to investigate complex problems and the ability to turn scientific findings into practical solutions. At Ovako, this also means working with customers to understand their challenges and exploring how steel can help them develop new products, improve performance and bring new ideas to life.

As a leading European producer of specialty steel, Ovako combines more than 300 years of industrial expertise with modern technology and a strong commitment to sustainability. As part of Nippon Steel, the company also benefits from an international network of metallurgical knowledge.

Ovako is looking for a Senior R&D Engineer with expertise in alloy design and materials performance to strengthen its R&D organisation in Hofors, Sweden.

This role offers the opportunity to combine advanced metallurgical research with customer-driven industrial development. You will investigate how steel composition and processing influence material properties, develop new alloy concepts and tackle complex challenges arising from real applications. Working closely with customers and sales, you will help translate specific performance requirements into material solutions, gaining insight into a range of industries and seeing how your research contributes to customers’ development journeys.

About the role

As a Senior R&D Engineer, you will drive research activities in alloy design, steel development and materials performance, combining computational modelling, experimental investigations and collaboration with external research partners.

Approximately 60% of your time will be dedicated to customer projects. You will investigate material behaviour, assess application requirements and develop steel solutions to meet demanding performance needs. The challenges will vary across applications and industries, giving you the opportunity to apply your scientific expertise to a broad range of practical problems. You will also support product development at Ovako’s production mills, helping connect customer requirements, material performance and industrial processes.

Collaboration with universities and research institutes is an important part of the role, alongside participation in nationally and internationally funded research projects. You will have opportunities to expand your technical network through research partnerships, conferences and occasional travel to research institutes and other Ovako sites in Europe.

Your responsibilities

• Developing new steel grades and alloy concepts, from composition to processing route
• Computational alloy design using Thermo-Calc and related tools
• Planning and evaluating corrosion testing data and hydrogen embrittlement investigations
• Driving nationally and internationally funded research projects and consortia
• Collaborating with universities and institutes, including supervision of students
• Supporting sales and customers with qualified answers on material behaviour and selection
• Identifying new research directions that strengthen Ovako’s product portfolio and long‑term competitiveness

The position is placed in Hofors, Sweden, with possibilities to work 2 days a week from home.

Your profile

You are a scientifically driven metallurgist or materials scientist who enjoys exploring the mechanisms behind material behaviour and applying research to complex industrial challenges. You are motivated by understanding why materials behave the way they do and using that knowledge to develop solutions to problems without obvious answers.

We are looking for someone with:

• A PhD in metallurgy or materials science, with a strong focus on steels and metallic materials.
• At least three years of research experience after your PhD, gained at a university, company R&D centre or research institute.
• Documented expertise in steel alloy design, including hands‑on experience with Thermo-Calc.
• Excellent communication skills in English and the ability to explain complex technical findings to different audiences, including customers.

You should also have experience in nationally or internationally funded research collaborations.

Meritorious experience:

Experience from research or development projects related to corrosion of metallic materials and hydrogen embrittlement of steels is considered an advantage, as these topics represent important current and future challenges within several of Ovako’s research collaborations and customer‑driven development projects.

Experience or interest in non‑metallic inclusion analysis and steel cleanliness assessment, fatigue testing such as rotating bending fatigue and rolling contact fatigue, or advanced characterisation techniques such as SEM, EBSD, TEM, APT or synchrotron methods in steels is also considered beneficial. Experience in patent work and supervision of doctoral students is an additional advantage.

Who are you?

You are curious, analytical and persistent in your approach to research. You enjoy challenging established assumptions, investigating mechanisms and building the evidence needed to understand complex materials problems.

You combine scientific rigour with a collaborative mindset. You communicate clearly, share knowledge and work effective with colleagues, customers, production teams and external research partners.

Ovako’s core values are Innovative, Skilled and Responsible. The company looks for people who demonstrate these values through their expertise, curiosity and commitment to continuous improvement.

Why Ovako?

At Ovako, you will work with advanced specialty steel in an environment where scientific research meets real industrial challenges. You will collaborate with experienced specialists, customers, universities and research institutes, with opportunities to deepen your expertise and contribute to the development of future steel solutions.

As part of Nippon Steel, you will also benefit from an international network of metallurgical knowledge and research collaboration.

Background checks may be conducted as part of the recruitment process.