Engineer, Materials

Scout Motors • Charlotte, NC

6h • Onsite

About The Position

The Body Systems Team within Scout includes Body Structures, Closures, Ladder Frame, Interior and Exterior Trim, Lighting, Accessories, and Safety. This role is specifically assigned to the Body Structures team.

The BIW Materials Specialist is responsible for leading the evaluation of Body-in-White automotive materials, including metals, coatings, sealers, adhesives, and paint, to ensure they meet industry standards, regulatory requirements, and performance expectations. The Specialist will collaborate with engineering, suppliers, and the quality team to assess material performance and resolve issues related to material properties and processing. This role will involve the creation and/or assessment of material specifications and test procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years as a Materials Engineer supporting steel and aluminum parts for an automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier.
• Experience with material characterization techniques (e.g., SEM, XRD, FTIR, DSC, TGA, hardness testing).
• Understanding of BIW automotive materials, including metals, coatings, sealers, adhesives, and paint.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams, including design, manufacturing, and suppliers
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools (e.g., MATLAB, Minitab, Excel).
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in an automotive or materials testing laboratory environment preferred.
• Knowledge of automotive industry standards and testing methods.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the subject matter expert and lead the development and/or evaluation of new sheet metal materials, coatings, sealers, and adhesives for automotive applications, ensuring compatibility with design and manufacturing processes.
• Ensure materials meet industry (e.g., ASTM, ISO, SAE, VDA, etc) and internal standards and regulatory requirements for safety, sustainability, and performance. Author new standards, test procedures, and requirements as necessary.
• Evaluate test results on automotive materials to assess strength, durability, corrosion resistance, and other critical properties.
• Lead the investigation of material failures and defects in components, determining causes such as fatigue, stress, or environmental exposure to determine root causes and recommend corrective actions.
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to support material selection, testing protocols, and process improvements.
• Support the manufacturing team by working with engineers and suppliers in optimizing material processing techniques such as welding, casting, and stamping to improve cost efficiency, sustainability, performance and reduce defects.

Benefits

• Competitive insurance including: Medical, dental, vision and income protection plans
• 401(k) program with: An employer match and immediate vesting
• Generous Paid Time Off including: 20 days planned PTO, as accrued
• 40 hours of unplanned PTO and 14 company or floating holidays, annually
• Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for biological and adoptive parents of all genders
• Paid leave for circumstances related to bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave
• Pay Transparency
• Annual performance bonus program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level