Materials Engineer - Steel Processing

Federal Reserve Board•Anoka, MN

4d•$77,300 - $108,100•Onsite

About The Position

The Kinetic Group is a world leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of small caliber ammunition. As we continue to invest in and expand our steel case manufacturing capability, we are seeking a Materials Engineer with deep expertise in steel alloy processing and material behavior. This role will serve as the internal subject matter expert on steel materials, supporting manufacturing engineering by guiding alloy selection, heat treatment strategies, and microstructure optimization. This individual will play a critical role in improving material performance, troubleshooting defects, and accelerating our overall learning curve in steel processing. This position reports to the Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Engineering and is based out of our Anoka, Minnesota office.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, or Engineering (Materials-focused preferred)
5+ years of experience working with steel materials in a manufacturing or industrial environment
Strong expertise in: Steel metallurgy and alloy behavior, Heat treatment effects on steel properties (annealing, tempering, quenching), Microstructure and grain size control
Experience conducting or interpreting metallurgical testing and analysis

Nice To Haves

Experience with steel alloys used in high-performance or high-volume applications
Background in Ammunition or Hunt/Shoot industry
Familiarity with boron steels or advanced alloy systems
Experience supporting or collaborating with: Heat treat operations, Steel forming processes
Exposure to failure analysis and root cause investigations in production environments
Experience working with external labs or material suppliers

Responsibilities

Serve as the technical authority on steel alloys and material behavior across manufacturing processes
Provide expertise in: Steel metallurgy and alloy systems, Microstructure development and grain structure control, Heat treatment response of various steel grades
Partner with Manufacturing Engineers to: Optimize annealing and tempering strategies, Align material properties with forming and performance requirements
Lead investigations into material-related defects, including: Cracking, Hardness variation, Grain structure inconsistencies, Performance failures
Conduct and interpret metallurgical analysis, including: Microstructure evaluation, Mechanical testing results
Support selection and validation of raw materials and suppliers
Provide input on heat treatment cycles and process parameters from a material science perspective
Collaborate with external consultants, labs, and vendors to implement best practices
Help establish internal standards for steel materials, properties, and quality control