Graduate R&D Intern - Materials Science

MSA, The Safety Company; Cranberry Township (Butler County); On-site; USD 27,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

MSA Safety is seeking a Graduate R&D Intern in Materials Science to support the design and development of next‑generation safety equipment. You will work hands‑on on materials investigations, using techniques like FTIR and DSC, to improve product performance in real-world applications.

We value curiosity, adaptability, and strong communication as you collaborate with a global team. This extended internship provides meaningful, project‑based work while you expand technical expertise in a

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed an advanced graduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering.
• Commit to a 9–12 month extended internship.
• Desire for meaningful work and learning in a dynamic, global team.

Responsibilities

• Apply technical expertise to troubleshoot materials-related challenges and support product development.
• Coordinate exploratory destructive and non-destructive testing on samples.
• Utilize in-house analytical equipment to inform engineering conclusions.
• Analyze data and document decisions for broad technical audiences.
• Stay informed on material innovations and share results with leadership.

Skills

Materials science

Analytical instruments

Communication skills

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Masters or PhD in Materials Science and Engineering

Tools

FTIR

GC-MS

DSC

XRF

XRD

SEM

Job description

Overview

Are you someone who is passionate, motivated, and driven to make a difference? If so, MSA Safety is the perfect fit for your career.

At MSA, SAFETY is who we are AND it is what we do. We are a purpose-driven company committed to deploying innovation and technology to deliver on our Mission to help protect people and assets all around the world. We continue to be relentless in our pursuit of solving our customers greatest problems so they can go home safe each and every day.

Are you in? Read on for more details about this particular role.

Responsibilities

MSA Safety’s Materials Scienceteam is looking for an engaged and inquisitive team member with a passion for materials science and continuous improvement. If you like materials and technology, have a customer-focused mindset, and are imaginative, creative, and hands‑on, we want to hear from you!

As a Graduate R&D Intern in Materials Scienceat MSA Safety, you will support the design and development of the next generation of safety equipment. This challenging but exciting work helps to keep people safe in the most dangerous environments, and ultimately safeguards workers and their communities.

In this role, you will:

• Apply technical expertise and instrumental analysis to troubleshoot and resolve a broad variety of materials-related product, production, and/or sourcing challenges.
• Support the continuous improvement of MSA product performance in demanding, real-world applications through materials-related investigations.
• Coordinate and perform exploratory destructive and non-destructive testing on product samples to better understand expected mechanical, thermal, and chemical performance.
• Utilize in-house analytical equipment to support engineering conclusions and recommendations.
• Analyze and interpret data, making recommendations on next steps. Capture technical decision-making in reports and presentations that are appropriate for broad technical audiences.
• Keep informed of relevant material innovations and trends that could enable the next generation of safety equipment.
• Research relevant new materials, conduct probing experiments into feasibility, and share results with engineering leadership and product development teams.

This role is an extended internship opportunity (i.e. 9 months - 1 year) for students currently pursuing and/or recently completed an advanced graduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

Qualifications

This role is right for you if:

• You can commit to a continuous extended internship (i.e. 9 months - 1 year duration).
• You want your work to be meaningful.
• You are eager to learn and adaptable.
• You like your work to be dynamic and varied from day-to-day.
• You enjoy working within global teams and with a diverse group of peers, whose experience may range from interns to PhD-level experts.
• You have a solid technical foundation in material properties and behaviors. You have a deep understanding of mechanical, chemical, and thermal material properties, and how they relate to material failure and part design.
• You are interested in a broad range of material domains, including thermoplastics/polymers, polymeric coatings, metals, and/or composites.
• You have experience working with a variety of analytical instruments, such as FTIR, GC-MS, DSC, XRF, XRD, and/or SEM.
• You have strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• You have demonstrated the ability to manage your time across multiple simultaneous projects.

Nice-to-have skills and experiences include:

• Experience with Atlassian Confluence & JIRA, Microsoft 365, Miro, Minitab, PowerBI
• Experience in applying Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) principles and/or inferential statistics.

Education required

• Currently pursuing and/or successful completion of an advanced graduate degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Materials Science and Engineering