Materials Engineer II - Metals & Plating

Materials Engineer II - Metals & Plating

You'll Be DISRUPTIVE Through These Responsibilities

• Perform metallurgical evaluations including sectioning, mounting, polishing, microstructural analysis, hardness testing, and failure analysis.
• Interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and metallurgical specifications to assess conformance and material performance for production and prototype components. Guide design teams on drawing requirements and callouts to achieve product quality and control.
• Support design teams in the development of terminals, connectors, busbars, and other metallic interfaces
  , optimizing for conductivity, durability, formability, and manufacturability.
• Recommend plating systems (e.g., nickel, tin, silver, zinc) based on corrosion resistance, conductivity, wear, cost, and process capability.
• Investigate plating and surfacefinish issues-such as adhesion defects, porosity, corrosion, or wear failures-and drive rootcause problem solving with suppliers and cross functional teams.
• Select and apply appropriate material test methods (ASTM, ISO, internal procedures) and guide engineering requesters on test planning.
• Prepare professional engineering reports with clear conclusions and actionable recommendations.
• Manage multiple materials investigations with minimal supervision in a dynamic, rapidly changing environment.
• Collaborate with design engineering, reliability, quality, and sourcing to resolve materials challenges during design, validation, and production.
• Drive continuous improvement by researching new materials, coatings, and emerging surfaceengineering technologies.
• Create and Review Milwaukee Tool plating standards and specifications.

What YOU Bring to the Team

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Metallurgical Engineering
  , or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in metallurgical analysis, materials testing, or manufacturing support.
• Handson proficiency with optical microscopy, microhardness testing, metallography, and standard failure analysis practices.
• Working knowledge of metal forming, machining, heat treatment, and plating processes.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and materials specifications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical insights to cross functional teams.
• High personal drive, ownership mentality, and the ability to operate independently.

Additional Desired Skills

• Experience with SEM/EDS, XRF coating thickness measurement, or similar advanced characterization techniques.
• Background working with terminals, connectors, stamped metal components, or highcurrent metallic interfaces.
• Familiarity with corrosion testing, surface treatments, and plating performance drivers.
• Experience supporting supplier development or resolving supplier related material issues.
• Experience with CQI-11.
• Ability for foreign and domestic travel up to 10% of the time.