Materials Engineer, Engine Design

Toyota North America • Costa Mesa, CA

2d • $119,400 - $194,000

About The Position

TRD is seeking a highly motivated Materials Engineer to support engine design and motorsports engineering. The role serves as the team's materials analysis specialist, investigating failed or damaged components, determining root causes, and recommending corrective actions. It provides materials engineering support to Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Control, and team partners, including guidance on material selection, heat treatment, coatings, processing, and manufacturing improvement. The position requires handling multiple investigations and tasks in parallel under tight timelines while maintaining high-quality work.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Engineering, Materials Science, or Metallurgy.
• Previous operational experience with SEM instruments.
• Intimate familiarity with modern materials, heat treatment, processing techniques, and microstructures, especially high-strength steels, aluminum, and titanium alloys.
• Sound understanding of material phase diagrams and chemical interactions of metals.
• High level of computer and engineering software literacy.
• Excellent investigative, analytical, and report-writing skills.
• Self-motivation, ability to work semi-independently, and initiative to do more than is immediately obvious.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for working with internal departments, external suppliers, and vendors.
• Good vision for assessing digital images and examining components and specimens for fine detail, and ability to perform prolonged optical microscopy.
• Ability to sit at a computer or desk and traverse large factory facilities for supplier audits and inspections.

Nice To Haves

• Previous operational experience with industrial CT instruments.
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Visual Basic, or similar software.

Responsibilities

• Analyze failed or damaged components and assemblies to determine root cause.
• Operate optical and scanning electron microscopes (SEM) for failure analysis and routine work; apply basic metrology principles and document findings using digital cameras and software.
• Apply understanding of EDS analysis principles through regular use of SEM.
• Arrange specialized external testing and evaluation when required.
• Prepare daily failure investigation reports with written and photographic content and recommendations for corrective action.
• Provide engineering support for material selection, heat treatment, coating, and processing to Engineering, Manufacturing, and team partners.
• Support Quality Control initiatives by verifying components against material and heat treatment requirements.
• Evaluate component manufacturing processes and advise on continuous improvement.
• Prepare metallurgical samples and measure material hardness as needed.
• Lead statistical analysis projects to monitor or identify trends in hardness, micro cleanliness, failures, or other metallurgical characteristics, and direct the methodology and tools used.
• Manage multiple investigations and tasks concurrently under tight timelines while maintaining high work-product quality.
• Travel occasionally to vendors or labs locally and by air, and periodically domestically and internationally for vendor, supplier, and partner visits.

Benefits

• Professional growth and development programs.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Team Member Vehicle Purchase Discount.
• Toyota Team Member Lease Vehicle Program, if applicable.
• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans for the employee's family.
• Flexible work options based on business needs.
• Toyota 401(k) Savings Plan with company match and annual retirement contribution.
• Paid holidays and paid time off.
• Referral services related to prenatal services, adoption, childcare, schools, and more.
• Tax-advantaged accounts, including Health Savings Account, Health Care FSA, and Dependent Care FSA.

What This Job Offers

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