Materials Technician

Materials technicians work with metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, plastics, rubber, glass and composites, in a range of industries, combining or modifying materials in order to improve their performance, safety and cost effectiveness.

They check that the materials being used in products have the right properties, such as flexibility, elasticity and strength, to make sure the product is safe, reliable and efficient. They also test components that have failed or broken while the product was in use.

Materials technicians use a range of specialist equipment including materials testing machines, force measurement instruments, polymer test equipment, texture analysers and powerful microscopes.

Normal working hours are usually between 35 and 40 hours a week and technicians are usually based in offices, laboratories or factories which are mostly clean and well lit. They may test materials in a range of locations, often on-site in places such as oil rigs, shipyards, production lines or vehicle workshops where safety equipment must be worn.

Salaries range from around £17,000 to £30,000 or more a year.

A materials technician should:

• have research and scientific skills
• have effective written and spoken communication skills
• be computer literate and confident working with statistics and calculations
• have normal colour vision for some types of testing
• be able to follow health and safety requirements.

There are opportunities for materials technicians throughout the UK. Employers include organisations involved in transport, aerospace, communications and energy, including gas, coal, oil and nuclear power.

Many materials technicians enter with A levels, BTEC National Certificates or diplomas in subjects such as engineering or materials engineering. The Diplomas in engineering, manufacturing and product design and construction and the built environment may be relevant for this area of work. It is also possible to start work as a trainee technician after a full-time engineering course at college or by training with an employer on an Advanced Apprenticeship.

Some entrants are graduates. Degree subjects include materials engineering, materials science, materials technology, metallurgy, polymer science, aerospace engineering, biomaterials, and sports and materials science.

Training may combine on-the-job training with experienced colleagues, in-house training in a training centre, day or block release at college and workplace assignments.

Skilled, experienced materials technicians may be promoted to senior technician. By undertaking further study leading to a degree, materials technicians can progress to materials scientist or materials engineer posts.

Further details