Senior Metallurgical Wire-Drawing Engineer

Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site fitness facilities

Relocation assistance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking a Senior Staff Technical Professional in Metallurgical Engineering focused on wire drawing. The role advances capabilities to fabricate small- and intermediate-scale wire from aluminum, copper, steels, nickel-based, and refractory alloys.

The candidate will develop processing routes, correlate structures with performance, and publish results. The position requires strong hands-on lab work, ability to manage multiple tasks, and a commitment to ORNL safety

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering, materials science, or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant metallurgical processing experience.
• Experience in wire fabrication and wire drawing of metallic materials.
• Experience with thermomechanical processing of metals (drawing, swaging, rolling, extrusion, heat treatment).
• Metallographic preparation and microstructure characterization using optical microscopy and SEM.
• Ability to interpret processing–microstructure–property relationships.
• Experience with alloy casting.

Responsibilities

• Develop state-of-the-art capabilities to fabricate small- and intermediate-scale wire from various metallic systems.
• Design, optimize, and document wire processing routes (feedstock prep, deformation processing, wire drawing, swaging, heat treatment).
• Correlate processing parameters with microstructural evolution and material properties using microscopy and mechanical testing.
• Support scalable manufacturing pathways for wire products across alloys.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Work in a fast-paced, team-based environment to deliver high-quality results for sponsors and stakeholders.
• Ensure all work complies with ORNL safety, quality, and conduct-of-research expectations.
• Align actions with ORNL core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.

Skills

Wire fabrication

Wire drawing

Thermomechanical processing

Metallographic preparation

Microstructure interpretation

Alloy casting

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering or materials science

Tools

Optical microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Job description

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking a Senior Staff Technical Professional in Metallurgical Engineering focused on wire drawing. The role advances capabilities to fabricate small- and intermediate-scale wire from aluminum, copper, steels, nickel-based, and refractory alloys.

The candidate will develop processing routes, correlate structures with performance, and publish results. The position requires strong hands-on lab work, ability to manage multiple tasks, and a commitment to ORNL safety