Project Engineer (Metallurgy/Materials Science)

S&C Electric Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 97,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

S&C Electric Company in Chicago seeks a Project Engineer to provide advanced metallurgical leadership for the analytical lab, guiding investigations and supplier qualification to improve product quality. This role commands strong collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams, plus hands-on lab work and data-driven reporting.

The position emphasizes driving process improvements, maintaining safety and quality standards, and mentoring laboratory staff to support operational

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering or closely related field.
• Progressive metallurgical engineering and materials analysis experience.
• Ability to lead investigations and communicate findings.

Responsibilities

• Technical leadership for metallurgy and materials science in the analytical lab.
• Lead complex metallurgical investigations and root-cause analyses.
• Prepare technical reports and management summaries.
• Support qualification of new materials and processes.
• Develop and maintain lab procedures and test methods.
• Support equipment qualification and maintenance with vendors.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering, and supplier quality teams.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality systems, and standards.

Skills

Metallurgical leadership

Materials analysis

Laboratory operations

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering

Tools

SEM/EDS

XRF

Hardness testing

Optical microscopy

Job description

As an S&C Electric team member, you'll work on projects that have real-world impact. You'll help transform the grid for resilient and reliable power worldwide. S&C has more than a 100-year history of innovation and has been 100% employee-owned since 2012. We continue this legacy as a trusted, forward-thinking leader in the electrical industry. You will advance a safer, more reliable, and more resilient electrical grid. Our products help the grid adapt to severe weather and transition to clean energy. We're big enough to be a respected industry leader but small enough for you to impact our company directly. Our commitment gives you opportunities to impact on and off the job positively.

Join S&C to make an impact on tomorrow's energy challenges and become an employee-owner!

Hours

• 8:00 am-5:00 pm (Monday-Friday)

Compensation

At S&C, we are dedicated to providing competitive and equitable compensation for all our team members, and we are committed to transparency in our pay practices.The estimated annual base salary range for this position is $96,514-$127,886.88.Individual pay within this salary range is determined by several compensable factors, including performance, knowledge, job-related skills and experience, and relevant education or training. This role is also eligible for S&C's annual incentive plan (AIP), subject to eligibility criteria.

Join Our Team as a Project Engineer!

Are you passionate about Project Engineering? The Project Engineer provides advanced engineering leadership for the analytical laboratory and serves as a technical expert in metallurgical analysis, materials characterization, failure analysis, and laboratory process improvement. This role leads complex investigations, material and supplier qualification activities, and cross-functional projects that support manufacturing, engineering, supplier quality, and quality assurance. The position drives strategic laboratory initiatives, mentors technical staff, and develops innovative solutions that improve product quality, reduce risk, and enhance operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Mentoring: Serve as the laboratory subject matter expert for metallurgy, materials science, coatings, plating, heat treatment, welding, and failure analysis.Provide technical guidance, work prioritization, and mentoring to laboratory personnel involved in metals analysis activities.
• Lab Process Improvement: Improve analytical laboratory processes, test methods, sample preparation practices, turn-around time, data quality, and workflow efficiency through standardization, troubleshooting, method refinement, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Data Collection & Reporting: Collect, review, analyze, and summarize metallurgical and materials test data. Prepare clear technical reports that document test methods, observations, results, conclusions, and recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• New Product / Supplier Qualification: Support qualification of new materials, suppliers, processes, coatings, heat treatments, and manufacturing methods through metallurgical evaluation and technical risk assessment.
• Standards & Documentation: Develop, review, and maintain laboratory procedures, work instructions, inspection criteria, test methods, and material evaluation guidelines to ensure consistency, repeatability, and compliance with applicable internal and industry standards.
• Equipment & Method Support: Support selection, qualification, troubleshooting, and improvement of analytical lab equipment and methods used for metallurgical and materials evaluation. Partner with maintenance, vendors, and internal teams to sustain equipment reliability and capability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering, supplier quality, quality assurance, purchasing, and operations teams to resolve material and process concerns, support new product or supplier qualification, and provide practical technical guidance.
• Compliance: Understand and comply with all applicable Company policies, safety requirements, laboratory practices, and quality system expectations.

Additional Functions

• Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
• Attend in-person or virtual meetings as requested or required.
• Communicate effectively and respectfully with others.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

What you'll need to succeed:

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in metallurgical engineering, materials characterization, failure analysis, analytical laboratory operations, or related manufacturing-support engineering functions.
• Advanced knowledge of metallurgical principles, including microstructure, heat treatment, mechanical properties, corrosion, fracture behavior, welding metallurgy, coatings, plating, and common metallic material families.
• Experience leading complex metallurgical investigations, root cause analyses, corrective action support, supplier quality investigations, and production-support problem solving.
• Experience with metallographic sample preparation, sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing, etching, optical microscopy, SEM/EDS, hardness testing, micro-hardness testing, coating evaluation, fracture analysis, and interpretation of metallurgical results.
• Experience operating, troubleshooting, or improving metals analysis equipment such as carbon/sulfur analyzers, X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers, hardness testers, micro-hardness testers, microscopes, and related sample preparation equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, material specifications, purchase specifications, inspection plans, test requirements, and industry standards.
• Ability to lead cross-functional projects from problem definition through implementation, including project planning, risk assessment, stakeholder communication, technical decision-making, and verification of effectiveness.
• Strong analytical and statistical problem-solving skills with the ability to identify trends, evaluate process variation, recommend practical corrective actions, and support data-driven decisions.
• Strong technical writing and presentation skills, including the ability to prepare investigation reports, laboratory reports, technical recommendations, standards, work instructions, and management-level summaries.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced laboratory environment while supporting production, engineering development work, supplier investigations, and quality-related requests.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate respectfully, influence technical decisions, and build effective relationships across manufacturing, engineering, quality, supplier quality, purchasing, and operations teams.
• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and data analysis tools used to summarize laboratory results, identify trends, and support decisions.
• Commitment to laboratory safety, quality, continuous improvement, accuracy, timely support of business needs, and operational excellence

Preferred

• Familiarity with ASTM, SAE, ISO, ASM, AWS, or other industry standards related to metallurgical testing, materials analysis, coatings, plating, welding, or heat treatment.
• Experience working in a manufacturing-support analytical laboratory with responsibility for production support, engineering development work, method improvement, and timely technical reporting.
• Experience leading laboratory equipment selection, qualification, method development, capability improvement, or laboratory modernization projects.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis software (Minitab)

Education & Certifications/Licenses

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline with relevant metallurgical laboratory experience.

Preferred

• ASQ Six Sigma Certification

Physical demands:

• Sitting: Frequently you are required to remain in a stationary position and perform desk-based work approximately [5] days per work week.
• Walking: Occasionally required to walk moderate distances, "multiple times each week".
• Manual Dexterity: Frequently required to use hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills to prepare samples, operate laboratory equipment, use microscopes, handle small components, and perform computer-based analysis and reporting.
• Ascending/Descending: Occasionally ascending or descending ladders/stairs/scaffolding/ramps/poles.
• Observation/Eyesight: Frequently required to observe details at close range, including microscope work, material surface evaluation, color differentiation, depth perception, and visual identification of metallurgical or coating conditions.
• Communication: Continuously required to talk and hear, or otherwise, in person and by phone/conference calls.
• Travel: Occasionally required to travel to manufacturing areas, supplier locations, training, or other company facilities as business needs require.

Environmental & Hazardous Conditions

• Continuously working indoors in an office, analytical laboratory, and manufacturing-support environment.
• Frequently exposed to laboratory chemicals, etchants, fumes, vapors, dust, oils, greases, sharp materials, heated surfaces, and other materials or conditions associated with metallurgical sample preparation and analytical testing.
• Frequently exposed to moderate noise levels from laboratory equipment, sample preparation equipment, manufacturing areas, and general office or lab activity.
• Occasionally working around energized equipment with the risk of electrocution/scalding/burns/other etc.
• Infrequently exposed to wet, humid, hot, or cold conditions when supporting manufacturing, supplier, or facilities-related investigations.
• Occasionally working with or near laboratory equipment with moving parts, cutting or grinding equipment, mounted samples, sharp objects, and manufacturing equipment while following required safety practices and personal protective equipment requirements.

Disclaimers

This job description is not an exhaustive list of all functions that the team member may be required to perform, and the team member may be required to perform additional functions either temporarily or on an ongoing basis.

The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and to change or eliminate this position.

The team member must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily.

Team Member Acknowledgement

I have read this job description, and I understand my responsibilities and the job's essential functions. I am able to perform the essential functions and responsibilities outlined. I understand that the responsibilities, duties, and essential functions of this job may change on a temporary or ongoing basis according to the Company's needs or business decisions, and that, if so, I may be required to perform additional duties, responsibilities, and functions. If I have questions about duties, responsibilities, and functions, I may discuss them with my supervisor or an appropriate member of the HR team.

S&C Electric is committed to equal-opportunity employment. All employees and applicants will be considered without regard to age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to complete the application, please email us [e-mail].

No fixed deadline.

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