Process Metallurgist

Nucor•Blytheville, AR

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Process Metallurgist performs engineering activities focused on safety, quality, production, and cost improvement at Nucor Steel Arkansas. The role leads team-member training and works with operations and maintenance teams to support technical performance. It monitors metallurgical processes—including melting, alloying, casting, mechanical testing, microstructural phase evaluation, and heat treatment—to ensure process consistency and control. The position applies Statistical Process Control (SPC), including X-bar, R, and I-MR control charts, Cp and Cpk process capability analysis, and regression analysis using Minitab. It also uses optical microscopy and image-analysis software to evaluate grain size and phase distribution. The metallurgist evaluates materials and develops manufacturing processes to meet specialized product design and performance specifications, providing engineering support across scrap, melting, refining, refractories, casting, rolling, finishing, and heat treatment. The role supports production-system enhancements through cost/benefit analysis, risk management, and abatement strategies. It develops and communicates operating strategies to optimize Hot Mill productivity and cost-effective production; designs and monitors scrap mixes to manage cost and residual-element targets; and applies materials science, production engineering, and quality-control methods to improve processing and production. It conducts root-cause analysis of metallurgical defects, evaluates system maintainability and reliability, identifies process and equipment improvement opportunities, develops and tests alternate designs, specifies system components or modifications, and conducts industrial trials to develop products, qualify production lines, and evaluate equipment performance. It also selects and improves steel grades, including consideration of vanadium, niobium, or titanium alloys. The position is based in Blytheville, Arkansas. Working from home one day per week may be available depending on performance and company need; the employee must live locally within commuting distance and be able to report to the worksite as needed. Safety is emphasized across all Nucor jobs, and candidates must demonstrate the ability to initiate, lead, and uphold safety policies, practices, procedures, and housekeeping standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Materials Science and Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a directly related field.
Two years of experience within the steel manufacturing industry.
Experience monitoring metallurgical processes, including melting, alloying, casting, mechanical testing, microstructural phase evaluation, and heat treatment.
Experience applying SPC tools, including X-bar, R, and I-MR control charts, Cp and Cpk process capability analysis, and regression analysis using Minitab.
Experience performing microstructural analysis using optical microscopy and image-analysis software to evaluate grain size and phase distribution.
Experience conducting root-cause analysis for metallurgical defects, including inclusions and cracking, and implementing corrective actions.
Must reside locally within commuting distance and be available to report to the worksite as needed.
Must be able to demonstrate the ability to initiate, lead, and uphold safety policies, practices, procedures, and housekeeping standards.

Responsibilities

Perform engineering activities focused on safety, quality, production, and cost improvements.
Lead team-member training and work with operations and maintenance teams to support optimal technical performance.
Monitor melting, alloying, casting, mechanical testing, microstructural phase evaluation, and heat-treatment processes for consistency and control.
Apply SPC tools, process capability analysis, and regression analysis using Minitab to monitor variability and improve process stability.
Perform microstructural analysis with optical microscopy and image-analysis software to evaluate grain size and phase distribution.
Evaluate materials and develop manufacturing processes for products with specialized design and performance specifications.
Provide engineering support for scrap, melting, refining, refractories, casting, rolling, finishing, and heat-treatment processes, including monitoring safety, environmental, process, practice, and equipment matters.
Implement heat treatment for steel products requiring properties such as high-temperature, oxidation, thermal, and fatigue resistance.
Perform cost/benefit analyses and determine risk-management and abatement strategies for production-system enhancements.
Develop, refine, and communicate strategies and operating information to optimize Hot Mill productivity and cost-effective production.
Develop, coordinate, or monitor production activities.
Design and monitor scrap-mix performance to manage cost and residual-element targets.
Apply production-engineering techniques, including SPC and quality-control mechanisms, to maximize production-system capabilities.
Apply materials science and engineering knowledge across the materials value stream to optimize raw-material processing and production.
Monitor material performance and deterioration, and optimize scrap consumption and continuous-caster automation parameters.
Conduct root-cause analysis of metallurgical defects, including inclusions and cracking, and implement corrective actions.
Work with engineers or operations to resolve system malfunctions or provide technical information.
Appraise system maintainability and reliability; identify process deficiencies, optimization opportunities, and equipment-upgrade requirements.
Develop and test alternate-design models to assess feasibility, operating-condition effects, possible applications, and equipment modifications.
Specify system components or direct product modifications to meet engineering design and performance specifications.
Conduct industrial trials to develop products, qualify production lines, evaluate equipment performance, and maximize productivity.
Select and improve steel grades to optimize processing and production cost, including selection of vanadium, niobium, or titanium alloys.
Initiate, lead, and uphold safety policies, practices, procedures, and housekeeping standards.