Materials Engineer

Federal Reserve Board•Anoka, MN

13d•$95,000 - $133,000•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 III with deep expertise in steel metallurgy and material processing. This role will serve as the company's technical authority on steel materials, driving material performance, manufacturing optimization, and defect reduction across our operations. This position reports to the Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Engineering and is based out of our Anoka office.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or related field.
5+ years of experience working with steel materials in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
Strong expertise in steel metallurgy, heat treatment, microstructure control, and material properties.
Experience leading failure investigations, root cause analysis, and metallurgical testing programs.
Proven ability to develop technical solutions that improve manufacturing performance, product quality, and reliability.
Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, quality, suppliers, and external laboratories.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Materials Science or Metallurgical Engineering.
Experience with high-performance steel alloys, boron steels, or advanced alloy systems.
Background in ammunition, firearms, automotive, aerospace, or other high-volume manufacturing environments.
Experience supporting heat treatment and steel forming operations.
Familiarity with supplier qualification, material validation, and quality system requirements.

Responsibilities

Serve as the subject matter expert for steel metallurgy, alloy selection, heat treatment, and material performance.
Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations to optimize material and process performance across production.
Lead complex investigations into material-related issues, including cracking, hardness variation, microstructural inconsistencies, and product performance failures.
Analyze metallurgical and mechanical testing data to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Develop and maintain material specifications, testing standards, and best practices to improve quality, consistency, and manufacturability.
Lead qualification and validation of raw materials, suppliers, and alternative alloy systems.
Provide technical leadership on manufacturing improvement initiatives, new processes, and capital projects involving steel processing and heat treatment.
Monitor industry developments and recommend new materials, technologies, and processing methods that support business objectives.
Mentor engineers and technical teams, helping build internal expertise in metallurgy and materials engineering.