Materials Engineer

Solar Turbines•San Diego, CA

3d•$120,600 - $180,900•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated Materials Engineer to provide technical leadership and engineering support for metallic materials used across gas turbines and gas compressor products. The successful candidate will possess expertise in the selection, qualification, processing, performance evaluation, and failure analysis of ferrous alloys, including stainless steels, precipitation-hardened stainless steels, and carbon/low-alloy steels used in demanding industrial environments. This role will support the full product lifecycle, from new product development and supplier qualification to field issue resolution and continuous product improvement. The engineer will work closely with design engineering, manufacturing, quality, procurement, suppliers, and service teams to ensure material reliability, performance, and compliance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science & Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Minimum 8+ years of relevant industrial experience
Strong knowledge of ferrous metallurgy, including: Martensitic stainless steels, Precipitation-hardened stainless steels, Carbon and low-alloy steels
Experience with heat treatment processes and resulting microstructural transformations.
Knowledge of mechanical testing methods and material behavior including: Tensile properties, Fatigue, Fracture mechanics, Creep, Hardness
Experience performing metallographic evaluations and failure investigations.
Familiarity with manufacturing processes such as forging, casting, machining, welding, and heat treatment.
Ability to interpret industry specifications, material standards, and engineering drawings.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Materials Science, Metallurgy, or a related field.
Experience supporting industrial gas turbines, compressors, turbomachinery, energy, oil & gas, or hydrogen infrastructure products.
Knowledge of ASME, AMS, ASTM, ISO, API, NACE, and related industrial standards.
Experience with corrosion mechanisms including stress corrosion cracking, hydrogen-assisted cracking, hydrogen embrittlement, and sulfide stress cracking.
Experience with finite element-based life assessment, damage tolerance, or structural integrity evaluations.
Familiarity with additive manufacturing and advanced repair technologies for metallic components.
Experience evaluating and qualifying metallic materials for hydrogen-containing environments is highly desirable, including: Hydrogen embrittlement assessment, High-pressure gaseous hydrogen applications, Materials compatibility and degradation mechanisms in hydrogen service, Material selection and qualification for hydrogen compression, transportation, storage, or combustion systems, Testing and characterization of steels and stainless steels exposed to hydrogen environments.

Responsibilities

Provide materials engineering support for gas turbine and gas compressor components, including rotating and stationary hardware.
Evaluate, select, and qualify metallic materials such as: SS410 and related martensitic stainless steels, 17-4 PH and other precipitation-hardened stainless steels, Carbon steels and low-alloy steels, Other ferrous alloys used in turbomachinery applications.
Develop material specifications, technical requirements, and qualification plans.
Support component design teams through material selection and mechanical property assessments.
Investigate material-related failures using metallographic, mechanical, chemical, and fractographic analysis techniques.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities for manufacturing, supplier, and field issues.
Assess material performance under: Elevated temperatures, High-pressure environments, Corrosion and erosion conditions, Cyclic loading and fatigue, Wear and surface degradation mechanisms.
Collaborate with suppliers and laboratories on material development, testing, and process qualification programs.
Review and approve material certifications, manufacturing processes, heat treatments, welding procedures, and inspection requirements.
Support repair development and life assessment activities for critical turbomachinery components.
Generate technical reports and present findings to engineering leadership, customers, and cross-functional teams.
Monitor industry trends, standards, and emerging material technologies relevant to turbomachinery applications.