Materials Engineer

thekineticgroup; Anoka (MN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental

Vision

Disability and life insurance

401K

PTO

Tuition reimbursement

Gear discounts

Job summary

The Kinetic Group, based in Anoka, MN, seeks a Materials Engineer III to serve as the technical authority on steel metallurgy, driving material performance and manufacturing optimization.

In this role you will lead material investigations, develop specs, and mentor teams while collaborating with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations to improve quality and reliability across production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience with steel materials in manufacturing/industrial environments.
• Strong expertise in steel metallurgy, heat treatment, microstructure control, and material properties.
• Experience leading failure investigations and metallurgical testing programs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME for steel metallurgy, alloy selection, heat treatment, and material performance.
• Lead investigations into material-related issues and implement corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain material specifications, testing standards, and best practices.
• Mentor engineers and cross-functional teams to build metallurgy expertise.

Skills

Steel metallurgy

Heat treatment

Materials testing

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's in Materials Science/Metallurgical Engineering

Master's degree (preferred) in Materials Science or Metallurgical Engineering

Job description

The Kinetic Group is a world leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of small caliber ammunition under the iconic brands B&P, CCI, Federal Premium, Fiocchi, HEVI, Remington and Speer. We have domestic ammunition manufacturing facilities in Minnesota, Idaho, Arkansas, and Missouri, and service law enforcement, government agencies and sporting enthusiasts throughout the world. Today, The Kinetic Group is a part of the Ammo+ division of The Czechoslovak Group (CSG), which holds a diverse portfolio of companies in the defense, security, automotive, aerospace and rail industries.

As we continue to invest in and expand our steel case manufacturing capability, we are seeking a Materials Engineer III with deep expertise in steel metallurgy and material processing. This role will serve as the company's technical authority on steel materials, driving material performance, manufacturing optimization, and defect reduction across our operations.

This position reports to the Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Engineering and is based out of our Anoka office.

What you'll do:

• Serve as the subject matter expert for steel metallurgy, alloy selection, heat treatment, and material performance.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations to optimize material and process performance across production.
• Lead complex investigations into material-related issues, including cracking, hardness variation, microstructural inconsistencies, and product performance failures.
• Analyze metallurgical and mechanical testing data to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain material specifications, testing standards, and best practices to improve quality, consistency, and manufacturability.
• Lead qualification and validation of raw materials, suppliers, and alternative alloy systems.
• Provide technical leadership on manufacturing improvement initiatives, new processes, and capital projects involving steel processing and heat treatment.
• Monitor industry developments and recommend new materials, technologies, and processing methods that support business objectives.
• Mentor engineers and technical teams, helping build internal expertise in metallurgy and materials engineering.

Experience you bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience working with steel materials in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Strong expertise in steel metallurgy, heat treatment, microstructure control, and material properties.
• Experience leading failure investigations, root cause analysis, and metallurgical testing programs.
• Proven ability to develop technical solutions that improve manufacturing performance, product quality, and reliability.
• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, quality, suppliers, and external laboratories.

You might have:

• Master's degree in Materials Science or Metallurgical Engineering.
• Experience with high-performance steel alloys, boron steels, or advanced alloy systems.
• Background in ammunition, firearms, automotive, aerospace, or other high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting heat treatment and steel forming operations.
• Familiarity with supplier qualification, material validation, and quality system requirements.

Work Environment:

Employee work assignments may include tasks working with and/or exposure to potentially hazardous areas, including flammables and explosives. Safety training is provided to all employees to ensure compliance with company and federal regulations.

Pay Range:

$95,000.00 - $133,000.00 The actual annual salary offered to a candidate will be based on variables including experience, geographic location, education, and skills/achievements, and will be mutually agreed upon at the time of offer.

We offer a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits including:

• medical and dental
• vision
• disability and life insurance
• 401K
• PTO
• tuition reimbursement
• gear discounts
• the ability to add value to an exciting mission!

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Protected Veteran/Disabled