Metallurgical Engineer | 15+ Years

WJE; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 116,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

401(k) matching

Education assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) in Northbrook, IL, seeks an analytical Metallurgical Engineer (Associate Principal) with 15+ years of consulting and forensic experience to lead the Metallurgy & Applied Mechanics practice.

You will oversee investigations of material degradation, corrosion, fracture and weld issues; mentor junior staff; and manage client relationships, project scopes, budgets, and schedules using WJE’s state‑of‑the‑art laboratories and testing capabilities.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of industry consulting and forensic investigation experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in metallurgy or related field.
• Excellent technical, graphical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Relevant professional licensure and/or certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Technical leadership applying first-principles problem solving; act as SME for metallurgy.
• Mentorship across local and company-wide teams on technical topics and career development.
• Project management including client development, scoping, scheduling, and budgets.
• Contribute to practice growth and client relationships through knowledge sharing and outreach.

Skills

Metallurgy expertise

Forensic investigation

NDT methods

Project management

Client development

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in metallurgy or related field

Job description

Bring your consulting mindset, ownership mentality, and deep technical expertise to WJE’s Janney Technical Center (JTC) in Northbrook, Illinois, where our materials scientists and engineers are genuinely excited about their work and invested in each other’s success. We are seeking an analytical yet practical Metallurgical Engineer (Associate Principal) with 15+ years of industry consulting and forensic investigation experience. This seller-doer role is an integral part of WJE's Metallurgy & Applied Mechanics practice. You’ll lead forensic investigations involving material degradation, corrosion, fracture and fatigue analysis, and welding issues; advise and support others with hands‑on laboratory analysis and nondestructive testing methods; and specify repair designs, material selection recommendations, and/or replacement strategies. As a project manager for WJE, you will take ownership of existing internal and external projects and client relationships, while continuing to add to your book of business through your professional network. As an employee‑owner at WJE, you will have the autonomy to shape your career and practice while mentoring the next generation of engineers. You will be supported by an organization offering stability, industry‑leading benefits, dedicated administrative resources, a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment, and access to WJE’s collective expertise and state‑of‑the‑art laboratory and testing capabilities.

Responsibilities:

• Technical leadership, including applying a first‑principles, problem‑solving approach and a deep understanding of governing codes, design guidelines, and industry practices; collaborating with interdisciplinary project teams across WJE as the metallurgy subject‑matter expert (SME); providing high‑quality reviews and oversight of work by others; and self‑performing and advising others in laboratory analysis and field work
• Mentorship, including exemplifying WJE’s culture of shared destiny and knowledge sharing to better the team around you: locally and company‑wide, formally and informally, on‑and‑off projects, for technical topics and overall career development
• Project management, including client development, project scoping, assembling and managing project teams, maintaining project schedules, budgets, and financials, and managing client expectations and deliverables
• Contributions to WJE’s metallurgy practice and company‑wide objectives, including proactively fostering new and existing client relationships in pursuit of project work you are excited about; engaging the next generation of WJE professionals; collaborating with practice leaders on knowledge‑sharing and training initiatives; and participating in industry outreach, professional organizations, conferences, and technical committees

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in metallurgy, metallurgical engineering, materials science & engineering (metals), welding/materials joining engineering, or related field
• Minimum fifteen years of industry consulting experience, including failure analysis related to material degradation, fatigue, fracture, corrosion, and weld‑related issues; material characterization; and strategic repair recommendations across various industry applications (e.g., refinery and petrochemical processing plants, oil and gas, bridges and structures, steel mills and foundries, rail transit)
• This minimum may flex for candidates already operating at this level of responsibility.
• Dedicated self‑starter, motivated to contribute to the growth of an expanding consulting practice based on a \"principles first\" problem‑solving approach
• Excellent technical, graphical, written, and verbal communication skills
• Relevant professional licensure and/or certifications preferred

Physical Requirements:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• This position requires visual acuity and listening ability.
• Individuals must have the dexterity to be able to operate office, field, and lab equipment.
• Requirements may also include: Ability to travel and attend meetings at various office, field, and plant sites
• Ability to perform inspections of process equipment and other structures, both visually and with instruments
• Ability to safely work at heights, in confined spaces, and in a variety of occupationally hazardous locations, including outdoors with exposure to temperature extremes
• Ability to safely use and/or operate ladders, scaffolds, lifts, and other access equipment
• Ability to lift and carry materials, tools, and other heavy equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Medically fit to utilize respiratory protection devices and other forms of Personal Protective Equipment
• Ability to drive and safely operate a motor vehicle
• Ability to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and authorization to work and travel throughout the United States without restrictions

Culture, Compensation, and Benefits:

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) is a global firm of engineers, architects, and materials scientists. Clients worldwide seek our expertise to solve the most significant, interesting, and challenging problems in the built world. Our applied experience from more than 200,000 projects combined with unparalleled laboratory and testing capabilities have made WJE a leader in providing innovative yet practical solutions to the clients we serve. Working at WJE is a team endeavor characterized by a culture of trust and personal responsibility. We encourage open communication, continuous learning, innovative thinking, ongoing mentoring, and free‑flowing collaboration. We seek highly talented and hard‑working individuals who want to be challenged, who want hands‑on work, who want to set a higher standard, and who want to be mentored by the industry’s most accomplished experts. People with outstanding Character, unwaveringCommitment to our core and culture, strongExpertise, and genuineEnthusiasm for their work. Learn more about the Extraordinary People we hire at WJE at www.wje.com/careers

WJE offers a robust, total compensation structure composed of base salary, incentive pay, and industry‑leading benefits: Base salary is determined through consideration of a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role while remaining mindful of our commitment to internal equity. Employees receive variable compensation based on personal and company performance, typically resulting in above‑market total compensation. A good faith estimate of the annual starting base salary (gross) is in the following range: $115,650.00 - $192,750.00 WJE’s industry‑leading, total rewards package enables our employees to grow and thrive with comprehensive health and financial benefits, including:

• Robust and affordable health plans for employees and their families, including HSA as well as low and high‑deductible PPO options
• Generous 401(k) matching of 110% for the first 6% of eligible pay, vesting immediately
• Time off to care for yourself and others
• Investments in employees’ educational assistance and professional development
• Learn more about WJE’s total rewards package here.

WJE is an Equal Opportunity Employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. WJE will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of Fair Chance Ordinances.

Founded in 1956, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE) is an interdisciplinary firm of engineers, architects, and materials scientists committed to helping clients solve, repair, and avoid problems in the built world. Supported by unparalleled laboratory and field‑testing capabilities, our experts draw on more than seventy years of experience to deliver innovative and practical solutions grounded in deep technical expertise.